Parramatta will head into Thursday’s NRL season opener with a staggering 10 players from last year’s grand final line-up either no longer at the club, injured, suspended or without a trial game under their belt.

As if trying to end Melbourne’s 21-year record of winning round-one games was not daunting enough, the Eels will need something special at a packed CommBank Stadium on the back of a rough summer.

The biggest concern for coach Brad Arthur will be who starts in the back row. Shaun Lane is out with a broken jaw, Bryce Cartwright is pushing to return from his own broken jaw, while Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore have left the club to join the Wests Tigers and New Zealand Warriors respectively.

Matt Doorey injured his ankle in the final trial game but will be fit, with newcomers Jack Murchie and Jirah Momoisea are in the mix.

Ryan Matterson is suspended for his grand final hit on Penrith’s Dylan Edwards, while Nathan Brown has a hamstring injury.

The news does not improve in the backline, where Waqa Blake (broken arm) and Maika Sivo (knee) could start on the left edge with no trial form. Bailey Simonsson has had shoulder issues, while Sean Russell, another wing option, is serving a suspension from a NSW Cup incident late last year.

Arthur will have a clear idea of who will be ready to take on the Storm after Sunday’s training session.

The only seven players fit from last year’s decider, and who featured in the trials, are skippers Clint Gutherson and Junior Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Will Penisini, Jacob Arthur, Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses.