Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy believes new recruit Brett Finch could prove the missing link in his side's quest for a premiership this season.
Finch signed on with the Storm on Tuesday after falling out with Eels boss Daniel Anderson last week and will feature for last year's runners up for the remainder of their 2009 campaign.
Melbourne will be Finch's fourth club in the past 11 years, but Bellamy thinks the 27-year-old will prove to be a more than handy acquisition.
"On the field he is a very tough competitor and a very experienced one," Bellamy said.
"We have been having some issues at our five-eighth position and we think he will fit in there pretty well and help Cooper (Cronk) steer the team around the paddock."
"He will take some time to gel, but he is a competitor and I am sure he will make his mark in someway."
While Bellamy expects Finch to prove an immediate success at his new club, Storm fans will have to wait a while to see the former Origin rep in action.
Finch won't arrive in Melbourne until Friday and Bellamy said he won't play his prized recruit until his medical staff had had a look at him.
As for Bellamy's plans for Finch in 2010 and beyond, the veteran coach said there would be no guarantees.
"We can't guarantee anything past this year and Brett is very aware of that," he said.
"But that is not to say we can't do anything. It is something we need to look at a bit further on down the track."
"Our interest was getting him here for this year and basically I don't think he is looking too far past this year as well."
Finch said that he was happy to receive a deal for the remainder of 2009, knowing that the Storm are restricted by the salary cap.
"They can't guarantee me more than this year," he said.
"I'd love to stay there as long as possible but I understand their situation with the salary cap."
"It's a chance to play in an extremely strong side, to be playing semi-finals and challenging for a grand final."
And while many expect Finch to come straight into Melbourne's team once he has proved his fitness, Bellamy said that may not mean an immediate end to the experiment of playing skipper Cameron Smith at five-eighth.
"If I think that is the best for the team (to have Smith at five-eighth) then I will do it, but if it is not I won't," Bellamy said.
"We will just have to wait and see down the track."