WOLVES’ hard-hitting prop Chris Hill is not letting his mind wander too far into the future.

Despite England boss Steve McNamara stating that World Cup places are up for grabs for players that impress during Super League XVIII, the 25-year-old forward is not allowing the allure of that possibility to influence him this early in the campaign.

And not because he is overly confident of a return to the England fold, either.

More influential is the fact that Hill feels his fellow Warrington forwards breathing down his neck for the starting berth he wrestled from either Garreth Carvell or Adrian Morley last year.

“We have so much quality in Moz, Gaz, Coops, Woody and me battling it out,” said the former Leigh Centurion.

“Just because I played all right last year and got picked for England doesn’t mean I’m going to get an automatic spot in either team.

“Of course the World Cup is appealing to me, but I want my form back from last year and to be playing well for Warrington.

“My form has to warrant my selection.”

That said, Wolves’ reigning player of the year would relish England’s possible matches against international heavyweights Australia and New Zealand, particularly in the light of the runaway wins he enjoyed during his debut against Wales or the following Autumn International Series victories against France.

“If I was to think about myself in a World Cup, it would be against the likes of Australia and the New Zealand,” he said.

“You want to test yourself against the best and that is what I am aiming to do.

“But first you have to test yourself against the best in Super League and internationals will come off the back of that.”