Stand-in Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen claimed Sharks teammate Greg Bird was the standout choice to fill Darren Lockyer's boots in the end of season rugby league Test against New Zealand.

Gallen and Bird joined young Sharks teammate Luke Douglas in earning call-ups to the Kangaroos train-on squad ahead of the October 14 clash in Wellington.

Most interest centres on who will fill the Australian No.6 jumper for the one-off clash after Lockyer was ruled out until 2008 due to a knee reconstruction.

Bird is vying with the likes of Sydney Roosters pivot Braith Anasta - the man he replaced as NSW pivot for the final game of the State of Origin series - and Gold Coast skipper Scott Prince for the role, the latter two also named in the train-on squad.

Melbourne's Greg Inglis and St George Illawarra star Mark Gasnier will also come under consideration for the role though it is likely they will be picked to play in the three-quarter line.

While admitting he may be more than a little biased, Gallen said he believed Bird was the right man for the job.

"Birdy's done a really good job at five-eighth," Gallen said.

"Besides Braith in those four or five weeks when (the Roosters) went on their winning streak - and with Lockyer being out - I think Birdy's the No.1 five-eighth at the moment.

"He's really worked on his running game and his last few games have been out of sight - I don't know if they'll go with him there but I think he'd be the best option there.

"He killed it when he played there for NSW."

Gallen admitted the chances of he and his Sharks teammates gaining selection in the final Test squad had been harmed by Cronulla's inability to make the finals.

Douglas was the bolter in the train-on squad but Gallen said the 21-year-old was ready to make the step up into representative football.

"He's such a great young talent and I'd go as far as to say he wouldn't be out of place in the final Test side," Gallen said.

"He's obviously been blooded for the future but he's probably ready now."

Every team bar Canberra had a player named in the squad, which will be added to as teams are omitted from the NRL finals.

The final Test squad will be named the day after the grand final with members of the train-on squad also eligible to play for the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea on September 23.

AAP