Coach Craig Bellamy believes earning a bye week in the NRL finals is a huge shot in the arm for Melbourne’s premiership aspirations.

The Storm’s heart-stopping 29-28 qualifying final win over South Sydney on Friday earned them not only a final four berth, but also a home tie in the preliminary final.

“Having that week off is a really under-rated thing in our game,” Bellamy said.

“Everyone is looking for a rest this time of year and I just know … it’s hard to go through and play four games to win instead of three.

“Everyone’s got a niggle or two so it helps and they’re 70 per cent the’re probably going to go in 90 per cent just having that week to freshen up so it’s huge.”

Last year Melbourne led the competition from round eight and finished six points clear of the next best team, allowing them to give some key players some respite ahead of their grand final victory over North Queensland.

But that is a luxury that has not been afforded to them this year in what has been a far more congested push for a top-eight finish.

The Storm have also had to cope with some big absences with Test centre Will Chambers suspended and prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona sidelined with an ankle injury.

“It’s been a tough four to six weeks for the whole club with a few things happening and with injuries and suspension, so I think we need this rest more than we have in the past,” Bellamy said.

The former NSW coach said there were no guarantee Chambers and Asofa-Solomona will come straight back into the side.

He was also uncertain if Brodie Croft would continue as halfback, with Jahrome Hughes still in the mix.

“The other guys who have come in have done a really good job so do we bring them in or don’t we? It’s a question we’ve got to answer,” Bellamy said.