Fiji officials are hopeful of fielding a star-studded team at next year’s Rugby League World Cup with Jarryd Hayne, Petero Civoniceva and Lote Tuqiri on their radar.

Assistant coach of Fiji, Joe Rabele, said the three stars were among half a dozen current and former NRL players the South Pacific Islanders hoped to field at the World Cup in Britain which starts in October.

The group also includes Melbourne’s Sisa Waqa and brothers Wes and Kevin Naiqama.

Hayne played for Fiji at the 2008 World Cup, where the team made the semi-finals.

But he would also be a strong chance to make the Kangaroos’ World Cup squad and add to his six Test caps for Australia, including playing against Fiji who are in the same pool.

Rabele told AFP Hayne wanted to play fullback and saw little chance of dislodging Australian incumbent Billy Slater from his favoured position and so he was looking at switching allegiances to Fiji.

“Like any Fijian player, he likes to play where he feels relaxed and easy. Jarryd feels relaxed at fullback and he is more dangerous at fullback than on the wing,” Rabele said.

The Parramatta fullback’s manager Wayne Beavis said on Wednesday Hayne had not discussed playing for Fiji with him.

“I’d say if everything goes well, he will be playing for Australia,” Beavis told AAP.

Rabele said Tuqiri, 33, is desperate to represent the country of his birth as he draws a close on a career in which he represented Australia in both rugby union and rugby league.

“He wants to finish with Fiji and, at this age, with the injuries he has encountered, he will not be selected to play for Australia (again),” Rabele said.

“Lote will bring a lot of experience and will lift the morale of the team.”

Brisbane prop Civoniceva, who played 44 Tests for Australia, and retired from the NRL this year, has already expressed a desire to turn out for Fiji in the World Cup.

The Fijians have been drawn in a tough group that includes Australia, England and Ireland.