The National Rugby League chief executive David Gallop will visit Papua New Guinea to examine the country's bid to have a team in the competition.
Rugby league is extremely popular in PNG and the national government is supporting a bid to have a local team in the competition by 2015.
Gallop accepted an invitation to visit Port Moresby to appraise the bid first-hand.
He would not comment directly on PNG's chances but indicated 2015 might be too soon.
He says the possible expansion of the 16-team competition will be discussed next year.
