Kiwis stalwart Thomas Leuluai has confirmed he'll play first and foremost as a hooker in this year's Rugby League World Cup, paving the way for a halves combination of Shaun Johnson and Te Maire Martin.

With incumbent five-eighth Kieran Foran crocked for the tournament, coach David Kidwell's playmaking stocks are spread fairly thin.

Warriors linchpin Johnson and Cowboys young gun Martin are Kidwell's sole specialist halves, while Leuluai and Kodi Nikorima can play several roles.

There are few other obvious candidates at Kidwell's disposal.

The 36-cap Leuluai, fresh off a Super League campaign at halfback for English giants Wigan, said he'd primarily consider himself a World Cup hooking option.

He'll vie with the prodigious Danny Levi for the Kiwis' No.9 jumper.

"It's good (to) cover for both, but I'll focus on dummy half - I'm happy with that, it's fine, done it my whole career," Leuluai said.

"Obviously I can play in both positions."

The 32-year-old Leuluai has spent most of his recent club career - at both Wigan and in his four previous years at the Warriors - playing in the halves, but has predominantly packed down in the scrum for the Kiwis.

Prior to last year's four appearances at five-eighth, ending in a broken jaw against Scotland, Leuluai had not played in the Kiwis' halves since 2010.

He backed Martin, a recent NRL grand finalist, to shine in the role.

"He's a great player and had a great year, a bit of a whirlwind - looking forward to getting into camp with him," Leuluai said.

"His confidence must be through the roof and that's sort of what we need."

Having departed the NRL at the end of 2016 to return to northern England, where he'd enjoyed a previous six-year spell, Leuluai admitted his World Cup selection came as something of a shock.

He's just one of two England-based players - along with departing Warrington utility Peta Hiku - to be named in Kidwell's 24-man squad.

Leuluai backed himself to grab the opportunity with both hands.

"I was quite surprised if I'm honest, but very honoured, getting towards the back end of my career and being around a fair while," Leuluai said.

"To go to the World Cup with the Kiwis is always a great honour."