THE investigation into allegations of sexual assault involving three Broncos stars will not rule them out of contention for Australia's World Cup team to be announced tomorrow.

Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd remain under investigation by Brisbane police after a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted in the toilet of a Fortitude Valley nightclub just 24 hours after the Broncos' win over Sydney Roosters in the opening match of the NRL finals series.

Cronulla's Greg Bird, who is due to face court tomorrow, will not be chosen after being charged with two counts of assault over an incident in which his girlfriend Katie Milligan allegedly suffered facial wounds from a glass, as well as charges of public mischief and false accusation.

ARL officials believe it would unfair to instruct the selection panel to overlook the trio as charges have not been laid and Hunt and Thaiday remain a strong chance of being selected in the 24-man squad.

Should the trio be overlooked, Australian skipper Darren Lockyer and centre Justin Hodges may be the only Brisbane players in the Kangaroos squad.

Also considered certainties are Cam Smith, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis and Dallas Johnson (Storm), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland), and Steve Price and Brent Tate (Warriors).

With Test forwards Willie Mason (knee) and Ryan Hoffman (ankle) already ruled out, a number of new faces are expected to feature in an Australian squad that is set to be dominated by players from yesterday's grand final.

It is unlikely that any players heading to Super League, such as Melbourne's Michael Crocker and Manly's Steve Menzies, will be considered. Also unavailable after being named in a preliminary 40-man squad is injured Dragons prop Justin Poore.

Meanwhile, Sea Eagles centre Steve Matai hopes to convince club officials to allow him to delay shoulder surgery until after the World Cup so he can play for New Zealand The Kiwis have already been hit by the loss of Sonny Bill Williams, Roy Asotasi and Frank Pritchard from what would have been an imposing forward pack.

In addition, the New Zealand camp is divided over the row between the Storm and the NRL judiciary, with Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney assistant to Craig Bellamy in Melbourne and chairman of selectors Darrell Williams one of the three tribunal panel members threatening legal action.

Williams yesterday said he wouldn't let the Kiwis' World Cup campaign be derailed by the dispute and offered to meet Kearney to iron out any tensions after he attacked the decision to suspend Smith from yesterday's grand final in the New Zealand media.

"I am sure Stephen and I will have a chat about it, although we will have to be mindful of what is said because the matter will be going to court," Williams told Fairfax's Sunday News.

"But we're both professionals, and I am confident this won't affect my friendship with Stephen. … Our focus needs to be on winning the World Cup. So, if we are going to talk about it, we need to clear the air early and on with getting the Kiwis right."

The pair have talked twice on Kiwis conference calls since Smith was banned, and New Zealand selection convenor Howie Tamati said he hadn't picked up on any tension between the pair.