League: Shape up or ship out, Bellamy warns Storm players

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Melbourne players are on notice they'll be dropped if they don't improve their patchy defence in tonight's NRL clash with the Warriors.

After losing three of their last four matches, the usually starchy Storm have the second-worst defensive record in the NRL - only ahead of the Warriors - and coach Craig Bellamy's limited patience has run out.

"It's time for our guys to start defending the way this club is used to defending," said Bellamy. "There's been some guys in our team putting some unbelievable efforts in but there's some others who have really been letting the team down.

"If we don't improve we'll make some personnel changes."

While his team's form appears to be in freefall, Bellamy feels the second-to-last-placed Warriors are on the up after the poor start that cost coach Matt Elliott his job.

Bellamy said the Warriors had been badly affected in the pre-season by their heavy representation in the World Cup.

"I've watched their last few games pretty closely and you can see there's some signs that they're starting to play well.

"They were unlucky against the Bulldogs and put up a real good performance against St George last week so they're starting to get into their best form."

The Storm have made one forced change to the starting side that lost to Canberra with five-eighth Ben Roberts sidelined for up to six weeks with a knee injury.

Ben Hampton, who started the season in the No6 jersey, will again take over the playmaker role.

The Storm won the 2013 Anzac Day match 28-18 but the Warriors hit back in their round 20 match 30-22. The Warriors' total of 14 wins against the Storm is the second most of any NRL side. Six of them have been on Melbourne's home ground.