Melbourne face a potential halves crisis, with Jahrome Hughes at risk of joining Cameron Munster on the NRL sidelines after being charged over late contact.

Hughes is the only player facing a ban out of Saturday’s NRL matches, with six other players able to escape with a fine.

The Storm halfback earned the ire of the match review panel for a late shot on Gold Coast counterpart Tanah Boyd, after he made contact when following a kick in his team’s 38-34 loss.

Hughes will be able to accept a one-match ban for the grade-two charge, or risk missing a second week if he fights it at the judiciary and loses.

Melbourne were hopeful Munster could return at five-eighth for Friday’s clash with Wests Tigers after surgery on his finger, but his comeback is still in significant doubt.

It means the Storm could be without their two first-choice halves for the first time since midway through 2021.

If both are out, it is likely Nick Meaney would move from fullback to join rookie Jonah Pezet in the halves.

Sualauvi Faalogo would then be an option to debut in the backline, and potentially in the No.1.

Another option would be for the Storm to slide Tyran Wishart or Jayden Nikorima into the halves alongside Pezet.