Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney is standing firm on Benji Marshall's omission from the train-on squad for the upcoming tour of England, despite Kieran Foran's withdrawal.

Foran has ruled himself out of the tour this week to rest an elbow injury before the start of the next NRL season with his new club Parramatta. With Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson also out of the tour through injury, it appeared the Dragons veteran, who hasn't played for the Kiwis since 2012, would again come into calculations.

Kearney, however, said Foran's withdrawal did not change his call to rule Marshall out of consideration until next year. "The decision on Kieran has come after [the decision] on Benji, so it's a bit hard to go back on that, Kearney said on Thursday. "Obviously Benji has got an injury, but that is not changing my line of thinking. I'm really excited about the opportunity to work with a couple of new halves who will certainly do a really good job for us. The decision [on Marshall] will stand."

The decision means rookie pairing Tuimoala Lolohea (Warriors) and Kodi Nikorima (Broncos) loom as the likely halves pairing for the tour, which starts with a match against Leeds on October 23 before three tests in Hull, London and Wigan. Kearney also mooted Manly wing/fullback Peta Hiku and Melbourne Storm utility forward Tohu Harris as other possible options in the playmaking roles.

The absence of Johnson and Foran meant the Kiwis would be playing a more forward-orientated structure.

"If it is Tui and Kodi that are in those positions in the halves, with the support of a forward pack which will match any forward pack in our game, and the likes of Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck) and Issac (Luke) playing a support role, I'm excited.

"It gives those players an opportunity to develop in that position which is an area where we don't have a great deal of depth." With Foran, Thomas Leuluai and Manu Vatuvei all unavailable, experience in the backs has taken a blow.

Kearney admitted it would not be easy, but said that presented a forward pack featuring the likes of  Ben Matulino, Sam Moa, Jesse Bromwich, Martin Taupau, and Adam Blair with a chance to stand up.

"It is a really opportunity I believe for those guys to take a fair bit of pressure off of the halves so they will be able to play their own natural game."

Results on medical tests on Simon Mannering, who fell ill towards the end of the Warriors NRL campaign, were due soon.