Mixed emotions for Grant leading into battle with Cam

Harry Grant will be wearing orange and black on the Sunshine Coast this week but his heart is purple and the man he'll line up opposite against on Sunday holds the key to it all.

Grant's duel with his Storm teammate and mentor Cameron Smith will either be their first and only clash against each other or the start of a master-and-apprentice battle that may extend a further 12 months.

It all depends on what Smith, 37, has in mind regarding his playing future.

The all-time leading point scorer and most capped player in rugby league history is weighing up whether to extend his career into an 18th season or call it quits and allow for Grant and Brandon Smith to take the Storm into a new era.

"It's hard for me to take, that," Grant said on Tuesday leading into the clash.

"I don't want to have too much of an influence on what he does with his future, but ultimately what he's done for the game and Melbourne Storm he deserves to play again.

"I can't really picture a Melbourne Storm side next year without Cam playing. I just hope this weekend I don't just sit back and admire him too much.

"It's going to be weird after training with and against him for a few years and then playing against him but pretty special in its own regard."

In between arriving to Concord ahead of one of the most chaotic seasons in recent memory, Grant has been a revelation for the Wests Tigers and will leave the joint venture with a heavy heart.

The loan deal with Storm back Paul Momirovski in March was the first of its kind and Smith has been one of Grant's biggest supporters throughout the season.

"I love playing footy and competing, at the end of the day I've got a soft spot for the Tigers growing up so coming here was pretty special," Grant said.

"I love playing with and against my mates. It's the first time my family gets to watch this year, being in Queensland, so that's what I'm most looking forward to."

As for the secret to beating the Storm's style of play that has dominated rivals for more than a decade?

"You've just got to compete on every play, that's what they'll be doing," Grant said.

"We'll go out and enjoy our footy, play a bit of ad lib … we've got nothing to lose and that could upset the way they defend.

"They're such a structured defensive unit that playing a bit off-the-cuff could upset them."

Grant plans to travel home to Yeppoon when his time at the Wests Tigers finishes later this month after living alone in Sydney's northern beaches during his short stay.

He'll switch off from footy despite the Storm remaining a strong chance of winning the premiership.

"Depends what happens with the borders, I'll probably try and get back up there," Grant said. 

"It's been a mentally draining year with restrictions and all that so it will be good to get away from footy."

However, Grant may not be able to escape for long with a possible State of Origin call-up for Queensland on the cards in November.