A "very surprised" Andrew Johns has hit Jahrome Hughes between the eyes with the costs of coming back too early for a big game, saying he wouldn't be able to hide behind Melbourne's medical staff if his preliminary final return goes wrong.

Hughes has missed just one game since fracturing his left arm against the Broncos in round 27 and has been named to start at halfback in Friday night's preliminary final clash with the Sharks.

While the Storm have enjoyed a week off between their qualifying final and Friday night's game, Hughes' return to play just three weeks after the injury makes it the fastest recovery from an injury of that nature in the NRL's history.

To complicate matters, when Hughes injured his shoulder in round 27 it was his first game back after a five-week stint on the s

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