Halfback Jahrome Hughes suffered a knee injury in Melbourne's loss to Cronulla last Sunday with coach Craig Bellamy saying he is among three players under an injury cloud for the AAMI Park clash.

Croft started the season as Cooper Cronk's replacement No.7 but was unable to nail down the role with Ryley Jacks and then Hughes preferred.

Bellamy said a call would be made on three players, including Hughes, later Thursday but downplayed the injuries.

"It's not a distraction, it happens every time we have a five-day turnaround that we have a few players in doubt," Bellamy said.

The coach said he was looking for a response to his post Sharks match comments that his team lacked "hunger" after two successive losses.

He said he felt some of the Storm personnel hadn't been working hard enough.

"Perhaps there were a few of us who were looking for the easy way, going the scenic route instead of going the bush track - the bush track is where it works most but you have to work harder," he said.

"There's been tweaking of a few things and hopefully our attitude is part of that as well. There's been some good signs during the week."

Bellamy said the Eels, despite their lowly ladder position, were a threat to his team's top four ambitions.

He said Parramatta were now playing to their capabilities and rated their big win over St George Illawarra last round as one of the best performances by any team this season.

"In the last month they've been playing like everyone expected them to after last year," Bellamy said.

"Most people probably had them in the top four after last year and a few were tipping them to win the premiership and they have found that form."

He said the Storm had put the microscope on rookie Eels playmaker Jaeman Salmon and planned to pressure him, although was unsure it would reap rewards.

"We've had a look at Salmon and hopefully we might be able to come up with something there, but he's played strongly and his defence has been good," Bellamy said.

Australian Associated Press