Danny Levi is destined to play for the Kiwis, according to his coach.

Warriors hooker Issac Luke could have serious competition for the No 9 Jersey Kiwis jersey.

Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown says his hooker Danny Levi will play for New Zealand in 2017 after a strong showing in pre-season.

Levi turned 21 last month and after getting over back problems, Brown believes the Wellington-born hooker will come into his own as the Knights bid to improve on a difficult 2016, where they only managed one victory all season.

ASHLEY FEDER/GETTY IMAGES Issac Luke was hit and miss in his first year with the Warriors.

The Warriors host the Knights in round one of the coming NRL season, with Luke and Levi set for a head-to-head battle at Mt Smart Stadium on March 5.

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"He's been flying in the pre-season," Brown told the Daily Telegraph.

"He's a talented kid who had some issues with his back last year. But he's got them fixed and provided he keeps working really hard, he's only going to get better and better.

"He'll play for New Zealand this year."

Levi has played 25 times for the Knights since his NRL debut in 2015 and was New Zealand's 19th man in last year's Anzac test in Newcastle, but he still hasn't played for the Kiwis to date.

A back injury ruined his chances of joining the Kiwis in last year's Four Nations tournament in England.

"There was a bit of disc that had basically broken off that was pressing on a nerve and giving me problems down my leg most of last year," Levi told the Daily Telegraph..

"The surgery meant I wasn't available for the tour which I was gutted about.

"But it's all good now so hopefully, I won't have any more worries with it."

Levi isn't Luke's only challenger, with versatile Brisbane Bronco Kodi Nikorima in contention with Manly's Lewis Brown.

The latter played ahead of Luke in the Anzac test defeat to Australia last May, with the Warriors hooker struggling for form at the time.