Both the Blues and the New South Wales Waratahs are chasing former New Zealand rugby league captain Benji Marshall to play for them in next year's Super Rugby competition.
Marshall has told his NRL club Wests Tigers that he wants an early release from his contract at the end of the season and his manager Martin Tauber has confirmed Marshall will move to rugby union.
The Waratahs chief executive Jason Allen says the franchise has already had talks with Tauber, while the Blues coach Sir John Kirwan has also met with Marshall and Tauber about him moving to the Auckland-based franchise and is optimistic theyr'e still in the hunt to sign him.
Kirwan says he expects Marshall to make a decision about his future next week.
Whether he plays Super Rugby or heads to France, an off-season stint playing rugby in Japan appears likely to help bridge the gap between his lucrative NRL deal and what he can earn in the 15-man code.
Marshall has played 193 matches for Wests Tigers and is the club's all time leading points scorer.
