Test match an NRL audition for PNG

David Mead, who played in three World Cups, will play his final international for PNG against Fiji. (AAP)

Outgoing Papua New Guinea rugby league captain David Mead is urging the Kumuls to use their Test match against Fiji as an opportunity to prove PNG has the talent to support an 18th NRL team.

The only country in the world with rugby league as its national sport, PNG already fields a Queensland Cup team, the Hunters, and in May, the country's government officially launched a bid to have representation at NRL level.