Australian coach Tim Sheens has warned there are no selection guarantees for the May 8 Test match against New Zealand in Brisbane and says form will decide who is in his first Kangaroos side.

In a warning to some of the stars of the game, and his own Wests Tigers players seeking representative debuts with NSW this year, Sheens said the only way to get into Test and Origin sides was to perform well and win games in the NRL.

"I wouldn't speculate on that. It just comes down to what happens in three weeks' time," said Sheens on Thursday when asked about possible changes he would make to the Test side.

"There is a lot of football to be played yet before you start putting people into who will and won't play in that."

The Test team won't be announced until May 3, giving players another three games to state their case for Kangaroos selection.

The same applies for NSW players with City and Country squads also announced on May 3 ahead of a clash in Orange the following Friday.

Tigers captain Robbie Farah is a leading contender among Sheens' NRL club for a NSW debut this year, along with prop Keith Galloway, forward Chris Heighington and centre Chris Lawrence.

But the Tigers coach has warned his hopefuls that further losses in the NRL - the club has lost successive games - will seriously jeopardise their rep claims.

"If you don't win a few games they won't be (selected)," he said.

"Form teams tend to produce rep players in the early part of the season.

"(But) if they're playing well individually, win or lose, you're still going to be considered.

"That's out of their control if they don't play well and even out of their control if they do. It comes down to what's happening at the time and what the coaches and selectors want in each respective team."

Farah was once considered a certainty to replace departed Blues captain Danny Buderus, but now faces a fight from Bulldogs rake Michael Ennis.

Sheens said competition for spots was healthy for NSW, but still believes Farah has earned selection with a strong start to 2009 after off-season back surgery.

"I wouldn't swap Robbie Farah for any hooker in the game. I can't say any more than that," he said.

"The fact there is two hookers, half a dozen halfbacks and a dozen second rowers all vying for spots is probably the health of the game.

"I wouldn't think anyone should expect just to walk into a position.

"The competitiveness of each position has been legendary in NSW let alone the Australian football.

"I think it's healthy for Rob to know he can't just expect something and is going to have to work hard for it.

"After a tough pre-season for Robbie in particular I think he is showing a lot of courage and a lot of improvement in his game.

"He will have a chance head to head (against Ennis) in the Canterbury game and then of course the City Country game quite probably as well ... that should be enough for the State of Origin jumper to be sorted out."

Meanwhile, Sheens refused to speak about last week's resignation of CEO Scott Longmuir after the pair supposedly fell out.

"I said nothing and I'm still saying nothing," he said.

In NRL news, the Bulldogs will learn on Friday whether they will be granted leave to appeal the loss of two competition points for a breach of the NRL replacements rule.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP