LITMUS TEST FOR CRONULLA

THE Cronulla Sharks are expecting Saturday’s clash with Melbourne Storm to reveal how far they’ve truly come in the first five weeks of Craig Fitzgibbon’s head coaching tenure.

The Sharks missed out on finals footy last season but now sit second on the ladder, having won four of their first five matches under Fitzgibbon.

The Sharks have played only two of last year’s top eight sides in that stretch, though, and face a massive test in travelling to Melbourne to meet the Storm.

“It’ll be a difficult challenge, one we’re looking forward to,”

Fitzgibbon said. “It’s going to be a hard game.”

Fitzgibbon said the Storm would give his side an indication as to how much progress they’ve made this season.

“It is still very early in the season to get an exact form line but I think we’ve been improving gradually. We’ll find out where we’re at on Saturday night,” he said.

Nicho Hynes and Dale Finucane are set to play their first match against the Storm since leaving to join the Sharks.

“It’s not lost on us that it’s an important game for those guys,” Fitzgibbon said.

The Storm have won their past two matches by a combined total of 74-16.