Some of Northland's better performing rugby players of the 2010 season are sweating as the Super-15 selection process moves into its final stages this week.
The coaching staff from the five New Zealand franchises will descend on Auckland tomorrow to finalise their draft choices.
The teams will be announced on Wednesday.
Loose forward
Dean Budd, who returned to his Northland roots this season hoping to get enough game time to try to break into the Super-15, said his hopes of picking up a contract were fading quickly.
"No news is bad news, at least that's how I'm looking at it," Budd said.
Budd, who had a memorable season for Northland scoring his seventh try in the final match to draw level with the team's top tryscorer Jared Payne, has been lauded by the media for his efforts but so far a contract hasn't materialised.
"There's still a chance, I guess, but you start to lose a little bit of hope when you haven't heard anything at this stage.
"It's kind of similar to the 2008 season for me. I got a lot of good coverage in the media but nothing came of it."
He said a lot of rumours were circulating about who had signed where.
But not all of it was accurate so it was difficult to keep tabs on who was looking for a blindside flanker, or who could cover lock.
Budd and his fellow Northland hopefuls will wait it out.
"It's a fickle old game but there are wider training squads to think about.
"If I got offered something like that I'd have to look at it, particularly because I had such a good season with Northland this year so I'm keen to hang around [for next year]."
He said returning overseas for a short stint over the off-season - like he did last year in Canada - was still an option.
The Blues still have five more contracts to offer and five Northland players: Budd, Aaron Bancroft, Mark Burman, Dan Prior and Rhyan Caine - among others from North Harbour and Auckland - have been identified by the franchise as possible players of interest.
The Blues have already signed contracts with Northland's Rene Ranger, Jared Payne and Lachie Munro for the 2011 season.
