Test selector Bob McCarthy says battling Cronulla halfback Brett Kimmorley will be first choice as Australian No.7 if English commitments force Andrew Johns out of the Tri-Nations opener.

Johns' manager John Fordham has lodged a letter with the ARL for a special exemption from the October 15 Test against New Zealand so the Newcastle halfback can be available for the English Super League final.

Johns has signed a short term deal with Warrington which is in line for a grand final appearance - played the same day as the Telstra Stadium Test.

The ARL is yet to ratify the exemption.

But McCarthy said he wouldn't think twice about throwing Kimmorley into the Test scene if Johns was unavailable despite the Cronulla halfback's troubled NRL run.

Kimmorley hasn't been the same since he was cut from the NSW Origin side in May for throwing the intercept pass that led to Queensland's golden point matchwinning try.

"There's plenty of options at halfback there (if Johns is not available ... you've got Kimmorley who can still play at that level," McCarthy said.

"The press media gave it to him for three weeks after that (Origin I), he was shattered.

"He hasn't played a good game since, it's knocked him around a bit.

"But he has never let Australia down at all."

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