KEY POINTS:
North Harbour Stadium is playing a waiting game while the International Rugby Board makes decisions about the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Stadium officials are aiming for pool games featuring high-quality teams, a quarter-final and to be considered as a team base. Eden Park is to host the final.
They hope the North Shore City Council's aquatic centre development at the stadium will boost its appeal.
The council is undertaking a feasibility study for building a pool and gymnasium on domain land adjoining the stadium.
Stadium chief executive Brendon O'Connor said the International Rugby Board were yet to advise the New Zealand Rugby Union how many teams would compete in the World Cup.
When that and other details have been finalised the rugby union will call for stadiums to put forward tenders for allocation of matches and team bases.
Mr O'Connor said North Harbour was also "waiting in the wings" as a back-up option for the final, should Eden Park not be developed or fall through as a venue.
The Springboks are favourites to be hosted at the Albany venue because of the large number of South Africans that live on the North Shore.
"It's interesting the festival-type approach that came out of this year's World Cup, the teams and the fans that engaged with the local community, " Mr O'Connor said.
"We would have that opportunity here if it were the South Africans' base because of the large population here."
He said the stadium had a small taste of what it would be like to host the team when the Auckland Blues played South Africa's Natal Sharks in a Super 14 game in April.
"There was huge enthusiasm from the locals."
The aquatic centre includes three swimming pools, a sauna and spa, a gymnasium, training suites, a creche and more than 500 carparks.
North Harbour is also replacing its 20-year-old scoreboard within the next six months as it prepares to host the Fifa under-17 women's soccer World Cup in October 2008.
