TEST fullback Billy Slater is set to become the latest player to be caught in the team versus baby tug of war.

The Storm custodian, a favourite for Tuesday's Dally M player of the year award, is a certainty to win selection in Australia's squad for the World Cup starting around the country next month.

But Slater and his partner, Nicole Rose, are expecting their first baby in late October, midway through the tournament. Australia are set to play arch rivals England on November 2 at Telstra Dome in the city in which the baby will be born.

Slater, who made his Australian debut against New Zealand in the Centenary Test in May, said he didn't want to think about two of the biggest events in his life clashing. "We'll just have to take it as it comes," Slater said. "It's due while I'm down here so if I'm fortunate enough to be in the World Cup, well, we'll have to work it out from there but I've just got to make the squad first and we'll cross that bridge as we come to it.

"Hopefully it will work out and I can do both. Being involved in the Centenary Test was a big highlight in my career and I'd certainly love to be a part of the World Cup."

As well as possible premiership success, World Cup honours and the baby, Slater could make his year more memorable on Tuesday when the Dally M award is announced in Sydney. The 25-year-old was equal third in polling for the game's most prestigious individual honour when voting went behind closed doors in July.

His outstanding form since makes him a strong chance of becoming only the second fullback to claim the prize, after Mick Potter won it in 1984 with the Bulldogs and 1991 at St George.

Slater has the backing of Dally Messenger III, the grandson of the late Dally Messenger, the dashing centre who defected from rugby in 1907 to become league's first superstar.

"I don't believe in the supernatural but when I first saw Billy Slater I said, 'My God, the old man's reincarnated'," Messenger said at a World Cup launch function in Melbourne.

Slater was flattered by the comments.

"When you hear the grandson of Dally Messenger, the bloke who basically started rugby league in Australia, saying that he reminds me of his grandfather, it's a huge honour," he said.