This week both the Kiwis and Toa Samoa named Matagi for the Four Nations tournament, with his switch to New Zealand dependent on an eligibility transfer from Samoa.
The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) needs to ratify Matagi's papers of allegiance, signed at NZRL headquarters in Auckland, before the Kiwis can officially claim the Warriors forward as their own.
NZRL high performance general manager Tony Iro said it was just a matter of Matagi and the NZRL submitting the required documents before his place in the 24-man squad could be confirmed.
"The paperwork needs to be sorted out and we're confident that it will be," Iro said.
Matagi has played three tests for Samoa, including their Four Nations qualifier against Fiji at Penrith in May.
Samoa are looking to contest the Kiwis' right to Matagi, and approached the RLIF on Thursday seeking clarification over international eligibility rules, with a response expected sometime today.
Samoan coach Matt Parish believes the 26-year-old is tied to their team until the end of the next World Cup in 2017 or until the expiry of a two-year "Election Period".
The Kiwis disagree, believing Matagi can switch his allegiance with players allowed to make one change during an Election Period, as defined in the RLIF rules [ruling 3.3 and 3.5].
Matagi gets his chance with the Kiwis after the late withdrawal of Sydney Roosters front-rower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
- By David Skipwith of the NZ Herald
