Canberra Raiders prop Joe Tapine wants to play for New Zealand, but he thinks this year's Four Nations is too soon and the "next couple of years" was a more realistic goal.
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Tapine has been named on the bench to face South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
He's part of an emerging young pack, the depth of which has again kept prop Paul Vaughan out of the line-up.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has named the same 17 that beat the Warriors in a thriller on Saturday, although he has named Junior Paulo to start in the front row with Sia Soliola coming off the bench.
It means back-up hooker Adam Clydsdale has kept his spot after making his club debut against the Warriors.
Tapine has impressed since his move from the Newcastle Knights this year, and is playing in a more central role.
The 22-year-old scored his second try of the season – against the Warriors – getting on the end of a piece of individual brilliance from Jarrod Croker.
While he's taken several steps in his development, Tapine said he had more to do before he could be considered for the Kiwis.
"That's always the big goal for me, is to play for my country. If I get the chance I'll take it with both hands and I'll love it," he said.
"I don't know [if this year is realistic], but it's a goal of mine over the next couple of years to try and make that team.
"I'm hoping it happens and with good luck I reckon I'll get it."
Tapine said he was relishing his move to the front row, although at first he was unsure.
He said the Raiders outside backs provided a "real big boost" for the forwards with their ability to churn through the metres.
It's something centre Joey Leilua and winger Jordan Rapana have done particularly well this season.
"Our outside backs have real attacking power so we feed off that and run off that. When they bring us out of our edge it's a real big boost to us, especially in that long, grinding game," Tapine said.
"It gets us saving energy for defence as well, especially in those hard games. The middle needs energy to defend and the outside backs give us a lot of energy to do that."
The Rabbitohs could be without prop Tom Burgess, who has been charged for a shoulder charge on Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.
He will miss one game with an early guilty plea, but could miss two if he challenges the charge.
NRL ROUND 21
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium, 2pm. Live on Fox Sports 1.
Raiders: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Shaun Fensom. Interchange: 14. Adam Clydsdale, 15. Luke Bateman, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Joe Tapine.
