The world number one New Zealand Kiwis are in the process of selecting their squad for the Baskerville Shield where they will take on England in a three-Test series. So who makes the cut and who misses out?

Stephen Kearney has named a 23-man train-on squad with players from the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, Melbourne Storm and Super League yet to be named.

The squad is as follows:

Gerard Beale, Lewis Brown, Manaia Cherrington, Greg Eastwood, Sosaia Feki, Kieran Foran, Bryson Goodwin, Peta Hiku, Solomone Kata, Tuimoala Lolohea, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Te Maire Martin, Ben Matulino, Manu Ma’u, Sam McKendry, Jason Nightingale, Curtis Rona, Tim Simona, Martin Taupau, Elijah Taylor, Bodene Thompson, Dean Whare.

Here is my predicted 23-man final squad.

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters, eight Tests)
Tuivasa-Sheck has earned praise from many as being the next big thing. He has assisted the Roosters in making their way to the top of the table and building toward their second premiership in three years. The Warriors-bound fullback is a certainty, his inclusion will worry Steve McNamara and his English side as they try to contain the Samoan livewire.

2. Curtis Rona (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, zero Tests)
Rona has had a breakout season with the Bulldogs after signing with the club from the North Queensland Cowboys. The winger has earned top honours this year being nominated as winger of the year while also finishing second for top tryscorer with a haul of 23. Rona represented the Junior Kiwis while at the Roosters in 2012.

3. Gerard Beale (Cronulla Sharks, seven Tests)
It may seem like a gamble but it will likely pay off. Beale may not have scored too many tries this year but he has certainly proven himself as a consistent performer able to hit the line hard and give his all.

Having played for Cronulla in all 26 games, the seven-time Kiwi will hope to bag a few tries through a lethal wing combination with fellow Sharks winger Sosaia Feki. If Beale is selected, he shapes as the Kiwis’ surprise packet and the player Steve McNamara’s men should watch.

4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters, 13 Tests)
A regular in the Kiwi Test team, Kenny-Dowall has had a controversial season. However, in recent weeks he has put this behind him and stepped up to play his best football. Kenny-Dowall provides power and speed on the wing and is lethal in scoring tries. Ryan ‘Thundercat’ Hall will have a tough task containing the Auckland product.

5. Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra Dragons, 25 Tests)
Will Stephen Kearney opt to field the experienced winger or could he possibly leave him out of the side and run with upcoming talent? One of the biggest question marks in the squad selection hangs over Nightingale’s head. A Kiwis veteran, he is currently aged 29 and despite being contracted with the Dragons until the end of 2017, seems unlikely to play in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

6. Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles, 20 Tests)
With no Shaun Johnson, Foran will need to take charge of the Kiwis and prove himself as one of the best five-eighths in rugby league. Whether he has the talent and leadership to steer New Zealand towards a series win is uncertain, but with very little options, Foran is a must-have in the Test team.

7. Tuimoala Lolohea (New Zealand Warriors, zero Tests)
After severing his ties with Tonga, Lolohea now appears to be a certainty to make his Kiwis debut. With Johnson injured, the young Warrior is one of very few options to partner Foran in the halves and his addition will be welcomed by the squad as they build toward the 2017 World Cup.

A member of the 2013 Junior Kiwis, Lolohea has also represented Tonga at the international level and is ready to break out onto the world scene with a killer tour of England. He offers plenty of flexibility, and if Kearney decides to cap Kodi Nikorima then he is able to move into any position in the backline.

8. Sam Moa (Sydney Roosters, six Tests)
Considered one of the best front rowers in rugby league, Moa has shown that he is deserving of Test selection in recent weeks after stepping up to the plate to cover Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’s position. His impressive efforts in both attack and defence have earned him praise not only from Roosters supporters but from the wider rugby league community. Not afraid to take on the line, Moa is a valuable asset to the New Zealand Test squad.

9. Issac Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 33 Tests)
Warriors-bound hooker Luke is ready to play after sitting out two weeks for his shoulder charge on Corey Oates in Round 25 of the NRL. The Hawera junior’s experience will prove valuable with direction needed among the halves. ‘Bully’, as he is affectionately known, should help to organise the Kiwis’ play structure and help drive them forward to a series win.

10. Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm, 13 Tests)
Bromwich has been among the top front rowers of 2015, earning him a nomination as Dally M prop of the year. Having been instrumental in the Storm’s premiership charge, he will be hoping to make Kearney’s squad and bring a mix of talent and experience to an already giant Kiwis forward pack.

11. Lewis Brown (Penrith Panthers, seven Tests)
Brown may not have had the best season at the Panthers but the Manly-bound second rower is still rated among the best positional players in the world. After missing out on the Anzac Test earlier this year, Brown will appreciate the opportunity to represent his country for the first time since last year’s Four Nations. He will not only prove crucial to the tour of Great Britain but also to the Kiwis’ future.

12. Simon Mannering (New Zealand Warriors, 41 Tests)
Likely to be the first man selected in the Kiwis squad, Mannering sits just one Test shy of becoming the equal-fourth highest capped Kiwi with Stacey Jones, sitting behind Ruben Wiki (55), Gary Freeman (46) and Kearney (45). The tour of England will likely be one of his last and he will no doubt relish every game as he hopes to write his name into the history books.

13. Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys, four Tests)
Taumalolo has been one of the key men in the Cowboys’ charge towards their maiden premiership and will hope to do the same for the Kiwis. The Auckland-born wrecking ball has been in outstanding form, proving his mantle as one of rugby league’s best back rowers. He has launched himself into contention for the Dally M second rower of the year award and will press himself as a contender for an RLIF award at the end of the year.

14. Adam Blair (Brisbane Broncos, 33 Tests)
Blair has completely turned his career around after going through his worst form during his career between 2012 and 2014 at the Wests Tigers to being signed by Wayne Bennett at the Brisbane Broncos and immediately launching his side into premiership contention. Blair has surprised nearly everybody except for Bennett after he has rediscovered his hard-hitting, hard-working best form. No doubt he will emulate this when he pulls on the black and white jersey.

15. Martin Taupau (Wests Tigers, six Tests)
Considered the strongest man in rugby league, Taupau has had a breakout season and cemented himself as a household name and cult hero among rugby league fans. Last time he lined up for the Kiwis, his throat-slitting gesture caused much controversy and this time he will be out to inject fear once again into his opposition.

16. Tohu Harris (Melbourne Storm, seven Tests)
Harris is among the most exciting young players in the NRL not only due to his sheer size, strength and speed but also due to his versatility and ability to play almost every position. Harris will likely line up in his favoured second row role, but is capable on playing on the wing if the young outside backs fail to fire. He could also step into the halfback role. Wherever he plays, Harris will scare England and prove extremely dangerous.

17. Greg Eastwood (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 23 Tests)
A veteran of the New Zealand Test team, Eastwood’s experience will prove valuable to the relatively young Kiwis. Eastwood may not be the biggest, fastest or strongest of players but he still packs formidable size and is able to punch through any hole in the line no matter how big or small.

While having Eastwood on the pitch doesn’t seem to be the best decision, he provides just what the Kiwis need and just what the Poms don’t need. He could prove the difference between winning and losing.

18. Ben Matulino (New Zealand Warriors, 20 Tests)
Matulino isn’t often seen by many rugby league fans as he hides away across the ditch, but he is not to be ignored. Arguably the best New Zealand forward, the Wellington product has plenty of experience playing at the international level having been capped 20 times between 2009 and 2015.

No, he is not there to add up the numbers and nor is he there to prove the Warriors are a good team bursting at the seams with representative stars. He is there because he has done it all before and knows what it takes to perform at the top level of rugby league.

19. Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters, zero Tests)
Taukeiaho has made a huge impact, breaking onto the scene and leaving everyone and everything trembling. He is one of the most exciting young second rowers in the NRL and his form in recent weeks has seen him receive much praise.

Taukeiaho would bring the size and youth needed to help the Kiwis contend for the 2017 World Cup. He played one Test for the Junior Kiwis in 2011 and has international experience with Tonga where he played against Papua New Guinea last year and Samoa this year.

20. Jordan Kahu (Brisbane Broncos, zero Tests)
Kahu has been outstanding for the Broncos this season on the wing and is deserving of a Test debut. The Petone rugby union junior would be a great inclusion in the Kiwis squad so he can be capped and prepared for the World Cup in two years. His big-game experience shown in this year’s final series will also be welcome.

21. Sosaia Feki (Cronulla Sharks, zero Tests)
Feki had a lethal season on the wing and is one of the most promising players in attack. A member of the 2011 Junior Kiwis, Feki is uncapped but if partnered with Beale will feel at home and no doubt fire. His season did not finish the way he would have wanted, if he is included he will relish the opportunity and play his best football.

22. Kodi Nikorima (Brisbane Broncos, zero Tests)
Last time the Kiwis played, Nikorima came close to earning his Kiwis debut after being named in a 20-man squad for the Anzac Test. This time around he looks certain to get capped, likely to be named as back-up half to Foran and Lolohea. Nikorima has had a breakout season and will relish the opportunity to represent his country of birth. He beats out Wests Tigers young gun Te Maire Martin for the spot.

23. Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers, zero Tests)
Cherrington is bound to take on the hooking role from Robbie Farah at the Wests Tigers and is considered the next big thing. He has previously represented his nation with the Junior Kiwis’ 2013 and 2014 sides, where he was the captain for the latter year. The Northland local has 11 first grade games to his name and is no doubt a huge part of the Kiwis’ future.

So that is my squad to take on England in the Baskerville Shield. Who makes your side?

The Baskerville Shield will be played between New Zealand and England at the end of the year. Both countries will play warm-up matches against Leeds Rhinos and France respectively with the first Test to be played in Hull on November 1, followed by November 7 at Olympic Stadium, London and November 14 in Wigan.