The murky nature of rugby league's international eligibility rules were exposed again Wednesday with Australian rejects Anthony Tupou and Jarryd Hayne both handed World Cup lifelines.

Parramatta winger Hayne was named to play in the Fijian side while Tupou - who Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart admitted was an unlucky omission from the Australian side - was picked in a powerful Tongan line-up.

Tupou and Hayne both need clearances from the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) before turning out for their country of heritage, Hayne having played three Tests for the Kangaroos in 2007 while Tupou was in the Australian side which won this year's Centenary Test against New Zealand.

Complicating matters is the rib injury which has Melbourne backrower Michael Crocker in some doubt to take his place in the Australian side. Tupou, along with the likes of Nate Myles and Sam Thaiday, are believed to be on standby for the Storm enforcer.

"I spoke to Tupes this morning, I said I'd be naming him in the side and he's pretty keen to play," Tongan coach Jim Dymock said.

"They're worrying about the Australian side, if someone gets injured there, he might slip in.

"At the end of the day it's up to Tupes to make the decision ... if he goes back to Australia, all well and good."

RLIF chairman Colin Love would not pre-empt a decision on Tupou's eligibility, with the executive of the RLIF set to meet on Thursday via a phone hook-up.

"A player has to make an application to the international federation to change allegiances - that application hasn't been made yet," Love said of Tupou's situation.

The executive will also make a decision on the eligibility of several other players named in various squads, including NRL-based Ireland pair Shannon McDonnell and Brett White, Samoan selections Ali Lauititi, Ben Roberts and Misi Taulapapa and Tongan nominees Awen Guttenbeil, Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki.

RLIF rules prohibit players from changing allegiances more than once between World Cup campaigns, Tuiaki and Moimoi facing an uphill battle to play for Tonga having switched to New Zealand last year.

"They're keen to play in the World Cup," Dymock said.

"They went and played for New Zealand last year, they had a disappointing tour and they didn't get selected in the New Zealand side (this year).

"I think being a World Cup, it's a big occasion ... every player wants to play in it."

The Tongan side looks favoured to emerge from the two groups of minnow nations to claim a semi-final spot, where they would more than likely run into an Australian side at the Sydney Football Stadium on November 16.

The winner of Pool 2 - which contains France, Fiji and Scotland, will meet the winner of Pool 3, which includes Tonga, Samoa and Ireland - for a spot in the last four.

"There's going to be some really competitive matches," Love said.

"You aren't going to see any blowouts and the team that does come through from those two pools to be the fourth team in the semi-finals is going to give it a shake."

The Tonga-Samoa match at Penrith's CUA Stadium on October 31 shapes as the highlight of the preliminary round matches.

"I can't wait, there's going to be a lot of fireworks," Tonga and Sydney Roosters prop Lopini Paea said.

"We're like brothers off the field but on the field it's going to be a different story."

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