FORMER Kangaroos superstar Petero Civoniceva is favoured to wear the Fiji Bati captain's armband at the Rugby League World Cup later this year.
And yesterday, the Fiji National Rugby League revealed they would be grateful to have Civoniceva as their front man in October.
The retired NRL prop declared his interest to represent his country of birth at the Rugby League World Cup.
Civoniceva plays for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup competition to help maintain his form prior to the RLWC.
The 36-year-old veteran, who boasts over 300 NRL games, 33 State of Origins and a record 45 Tests as a forward for Australia under his belt, is one of the NRL players, the FNRL is hoping to lure for the international event.
FNRL general manager Tomi Finau said the final decision for the Bati skipper would be made later in the year.
"We will be grateful if he (Civoniceva) will be the captain of the team. He has already declared his interest to play for Fiji and we are happy about that," he said.
"It will be a great boost to have his services at the world cup. He is one of the NRL players we are hoping to select. But the final decision on the captain will be decided by the team management later in September.
Civoniceva revealed to AAP that he came close to pulling on the Bati jumper with another rising NRL star Lote Tuqiri for the 2000 World Cup.
At the time he was just starting his career with Brisbane under Wayne Bennett.
Thirteen years on, the pair may get to play together for Fiji.
"I almost did it back in 2000 before I was even on the radar for Origin or Test selection," he recalled.
"I was coming back from a broken arm and I spoke to Wayne about it but he wasn't too keen because I was still getting over my arm injury."
Civoniceva will have to apply to the International Rugby League Committee for a change of allegiance to make his Test debut for Fiji.
"I don't think it will be an issue and I would want to make sure I go through all the right processes," he said.
"It's something I never thought I would get to do."
Fiji's first game is against Ireland on October 28.