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Melbourne's best football is good enough to beat any team in the competition. 

However it is their inability to display it for the full 80 minutes so far that has been the struggle for the Storm this season.

So far their 2015 campaign has included some dominant wins over strong opponents, while other results have left their supporters understandably gob-smacked. Recent weeks are a testament to that.

Double-digit wins over the Panthers and Dragons were followed by an 18-point loss to last week's bottom-placed side the Wests Tigers.

Against the Tigers Melbourne burst out of the blocks, scoring the first two tries before allowing six of the next seven. That mid-game drop of fuels the belief that their unpredictable form line can change not only from game to game but also minute to minute.

As they prepare to again go into a contest as overwhelming favourites, hosting the 14th placed Titans on Sunday, their string of up-and-down results needs to stop.

A win would again put them within touching distance of the top four while a loss could see them slip as low as eighth and uncomfortably within reach of the chasing pack.

 

In spite of all their peaks and troughs the Storm playing group has remained steadfastly confident in the belief that their best is capable of beating any team in the competition.

"I think so, it is probably just about consistently playing for 80 minutes and I guess that is something that the top four [teams] have done on a regular basis," Storm lock Dale Finucane told NRL.com

"I'm not sure if complacency comes into it at all, it is hard to put your finger on it… at stages our execution wasn't great, some of our defensive reads weren't great as well.

"The mood has been quite good this week actually; you can't dwell on it too much otherwise it will creep into your performance this week."

Finucane will have his hands full on Sunday against opposing number Greg Bird, a player so vital to the Titans' fortunes.

It was Bird's last-minute penalty kick that sent the Gold Coast home victorious from their last visit to AAMI Park in Round 5 last season, in was the Titans' second win in Melbourne from seven visits.

The Storm lock knows he will be a busy man trying to outdo the opposition's proven match-winner.

"It is always really challenging to go up against someone of Greg Bird's caliber," Finucane said.

"He's been at the peak of his career for a long time and it is always good to test yourself against those guys and gauge yourself where you're at."

The Storm host the Titans at 2pm on Sunday at AAMI Park.

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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