Michael Morgan insists he can carry his NRL form into this week’s Rugby League World Cup opener should he get picked in the five-eighth position.

Morgan is likely to be named in the No.6 Kangaroos jumper when all 14 nations release their teams on Tuesday for the opening round of group matches.

It would be just the second time the North Queensland star will start in the green and gold after eight Test appearances.

“All of my games bar one for Australia have been off the bench in a different role. So it’s where I prefer to play, so look I’d feel comfortable if given the opportunity,” Morgan said on Tuesday.

“I’m under no illusions there’s plenty of competition. Just to be in the side, I’ll be happy with.”

The 25-year-old steered the Cowboys on an NRL finals run into this year’s decider before eventually being stopped by Melbourne.

However he admits it may not be enough to seal the five-eighth role vacated by injured star Johnathan Thurston.

“I think more can come into it at times, whether it’s combinations of things like that, or who’s more suited to the team we’re playing against,” he said.

“There’s more things to come into it than just that, and I know that. Again I’m very happy to be here and be a part of the squad and hopefully throughout the tournament I can get a chance.”

Selection at pivot would also mean starting alongside veteran halfback Cooper Cronk, whose words of advice during the May Test Morgan credited for his stunning rise.

Morgan said it would be special to partner Cronk against England.

“I haven’t done that with Cooper before, so it would be nice,” he said.

“In that Test week, if you had of told me then that I had the opportunity to partner him in the halves in a World Cup, I wouldn’t have thought it was true.

“But I’m glad I have the opportunity to possibly do that at some stage throughout the tournament. It’d be pretty special.”