The 27-year-old has endured a roller coaster career since taking part in the 2011 Four Nations tournament but has come into the 2017 season in career-best shape and form.

He ran for a whopping 174 metres in his side’s round one demolition of Penrith and, like most of the Dragons forwards, is averaging 120 running metres a game in the middle of the park.

As a member of the Dragons leadership group, he’s also played a major role in mentoring the club’s young brigade and could play a similar role at Test level should Stephen Kearney make the call.

With the obvious exception of skipper Jesse Bromwich, the Kiwis front-row stocks have been uncharacteristically skinny of late, with Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood and young-gun Joseph Tapine forming the middle rotation in last year’s Four Nations final.

With May’s mid-season Test fast approaching, Packer could add some much-needed muscle and experience to the Kiwi pack ahead of the World Cup at season’s end.

“Test football is one of those things that’s a privilege,” Packer said.

“Obviously it’s a goal but I haven’t put too much thought or energy into it at this stage.

“You’ve just got to play well for your club and if I’m lucky enough to get selected to represent my country it’d be a dream come true again.

“It’s a while away, we’ve still got a few more games before that Test so I’ve just got to keep putting in consistent efforts every week and if I keep my performances up, who knows.

“It’s a big goal, with the World Cup this year as well so hopefully I can improve on my form and do enough to get selected somewhere.”

Packer has been part of what is arguably the form pack of the competition over the opening four rounds, with a poor effort against Parramatta in round two the only speed bump in a 3-1 start to the season.

They face Wests Tigers, who may or may not have a new fulltime coach, at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

In stark contrast to last season, they are also the first team to post 100 points this season, with their differential equal to that of competition leaders Melbourne.

They’ll have the chance to win three games in a row for the first time since round nine 2015 when they take on the Tigers and Packer said it’s important his side start building a consistent platform.

“It’s been a good start to the season, three out of four games won, but the challenge is to back it up.” Packer said.

“Our forward pack’s playing pretty well, Vaughany’s [Paul Vaughan] is playing really good and all the boys are tucking it up and ripping in.

“It’s been a strength of ours for the last four games and it’s an old cliche but if your forward pack’s not going good, it’s hard for the team to to do well so we’ve got keep it up.

“We’re scoring points pretty freely at the moment but more importantly our defence is standing up and we’re not giving up as many points. That’s what we’ve been working hard for all preseason, working hard for each other in defence, and it’s good that it’s paying off for us so far.”