Billy Slater has pinpointed the key area where Melbourne have the advantage in this year’s grand final – and it could see referee Grant Atkins in the firing line.

Atkins will take the whistle for his first NRL decider on Sunday night, getting the nod over the experienced Ashley Klein in a changing of the guard moment.

It’s a huge reward for Atkins, who has improved out of sight in recent years and is now clearly pitted as the game’s best on-field official.

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However, there will be “pressure” on the referee to perform and Slater queried where Atkins would stand when it comes to one crucial part of the game.

“The one real advantage for the Melbourne Storm are these high kicks for their wingers,” he said on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast.

Xavier Coates of the Storm was awarded a controversial penalty try against the Broncos.

Xavier Coates leaps above the Broncos players Getty

“You think about [Will] Warbrick and [Xavier] Coates, if they get a 50/50 opportunity against Deine Mariner and [Josiah] Karapani, that 50/50 all of a sudden turns into a 75 per cent chance because of the athleticism, height and ability to catch high balls.

“I do remember back in round 27, the Broncos were willing to escort players off those two guys and give away penalties and back their defence.

“It will be interesting and the pressure is on Grant Atkins – who is refereeing his first grand final – with how they police that.

“That was an evident ploy for the Broncos with their centres getting over and helping out their wingers, which they have to do because the advantage goes to Melbourne.”

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Broncos legend Darren Lockyer admitted that the last time the two grand finalists met, there was a tactic to diminish Coates’ impact in particular.

“The biggest threat from the Storm is in the air,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER in the lead-up to the game.

“The last time we played them up in Brisbane, there were four or five penalties that we gave away. That’s a real battle for the Broncos and how they handle that.”

Co-host Adam Jackson jumped in and used the word “deliberate” to which Lockyer nodded and smirked.

Coates has developed into an incredible aerial threat, scoring 20 tries in 21 games this season, and it’s no secret the Storm will be kicking to him whenever possible.

Standing at 194cm, the Maroons flyer has a significant height advantage over his opposing winger Karapani, who is still finding his feet in the NRL and is 183cm tall.

On the other side, Warbrick – who has had a disrupted year due to concussion issues – is also eight centimetres taller than his opposite man Mariner.

It’s a clear mismatch that the Storm will be looking to exploit, but the Broncos pair have their own strengths that could keep them in the contest.

Karapani was hammered with bombs in the side’s preliminary final win over Penrith and will take great confidence from his performance, but Slater believes it could be a ploy that Melbourne will utilise again on Sunday night to diminish other parts of his game.

Josiah Karapani Getty

“The one thing that really surprises you or people don’t pick it up, is that he’s got great footwork and agility and he’s a pretty strong lad,” the Storm legend said.

“That might have been a ploy from Penrith [kicking to him], just to stand him still and keep him out of those back-field carries. 

“They are so influential on running metres and whoever wins that battle will help with that foundation and field position … Mariner and Karapani have a huge job.

“The centres come back and contribute on those plus one carries as well. Jack Howarth is one of the best back-field carriers in the game, coming up against Kotoni Staggs.

“Gehamat Shibasaki has had a great season and he’s a big body, while Nick Meaney is always a seven out of 10 sort of player.

“Those four players up against each other will be thinking about that part of the game and making sure they’re getting back and contributing.”

NRL grand final team lists

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Ativalu Lisati 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald

Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Ezra Mam 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Xavier Willison 17. Tyson Smoothy