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Cameron Munster is racing the clock to be fit for round one because of a groin injury.

“I was rooming with[skipper] Harry Grant. He came in to see if I was alright because he heard me yell out in pain. We were laughing at the time. Now I’m not laughing.”

Coach Craig Bellamy said on the weekend Munster was battling injury because of the shower spill,with Jonah Pezet the likely No.6 replacement.

Munster said his right groin needed to cope with training on Tuesday and Thursday,but the last thing he needed was to return early and risk further time on the sidelines.

“It would be nice to play Friday,but we’ll see how we go;I’m doing what I can with the physios to get everything right,” Munster said. “I’d love to play against Penrith and see where we are at. They’ve been the best team in the competition the last three years.

Cameron Munster (right) with Storm skipper Harry Grant (centre) and vice-captain Jahrome Hughes.Credit:Getty Images

“But I won’t push for round one and then be out for 10 weeks ... I’d rather miss the first couple of weeks of the year than miss the whole back end of the year. I can’t do back to back days at the moment. I’m still optimistic I can play Friday. You never know.”

TheStorm were blown off the park by Penrith in last year’s preliminary final. Munster said their youngsters were “overawed by the occasion”,and senior players like himself “failed to aim up as consistently as we usually would in finals games”.

Melbourne are shooting for a 22nd straight round-one victory against the premiers,who are expected to welcome back their own five-eighth,Jarome Luai,from shoulder surgery.

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