Frank-Paul Nuuausala's late-night drinking antics with Todd Carney hardly ingratiated the Sydney Roosters prop to Kiwis selectors, but three other teammates will be hoping to make a better impression as their disastrous National Rugby League (NRL) season winds down.
For Sam Perrett, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, inclusion in the Kiwis squad to defend the Four Nations title in England during October-November looms as a major motivation during the Roosters' final four regular season matches.
The trio and Nuuausala were members of the victorious Kiwis side that upstaged the Kangaroos in Brisbane last year, but since then their status as automatic selections has been compromised by injury and the Roosters' dramatic slide from losing grand finalists to a dismal 13th on the competition ladder.
Perrett missed the Anzac test loss to Australia on the Gold Coast in May with a serious ankle injury and is aware the competition for wing spots in intense with Manu Vatuvei - who was also unavailable for Darren Lockyer's last test in Queensland - now also back to full fitness.
St George Illawarra wing Jason Nightingale appears to be a fixture on one flank so Perrett, who has managed just 10 appearances, realises there is plenty riding on the remainder of the Roosters' schedule.
"I guess you could safely say when your club's not going well it definitely lessens your chances of getting into representative sides," Perrett said.
"The Kiwis have been doing really well over recent years so I's really love to be a part of keeping that rolling. Fingers crossed, I've just got to keep doing my best."
Kenny-Dowall, proclaimed as the NRL's centre of the year in 2010, has been unable to reproduce that form and is under pressure from aggressive Manly counterpart Steve Matai - who was unavailable for the last Four Nations tournament due to suspension.
Matai has been impressive with the second-placed Sea Eagles and already has an understanding with five-eighth Kieran Foran, a certain inclusion when Stephen Kearney names his tour party for matches against the Kangaroos, England and Wales before the final at Leeds on November 20 (NZT).
Newcastle's Junior Sa'u is also pushing for a recall after being overlooked for the Anzac test.
Meanwhile, damaging forward Waerea-Hargreaves is also pinning his hopes on a strong finish for the Roosters, starting with Sunday's grand final rematch against St George-Illawarra.
"As a player, it's (the Kiwis) always in the back of your mind. I've got to go out and prove to Stephen Kearney I deserve to be there."
The Roosters quartet's fate will be apparent when the Kiwis squad for their pre-tour trans-Tasman test against Australia in Newcastle on October 16 is revealed.