International netball bosses are hopeful there will be some certainty around the future of the game's spin-off version - the Fast5 World Series - by the end of the week.
The tournament returns to Auckland's Vector Arena this weekend for third and final time, with Netball New Zealand ruling out an extension of their current contract. England hosted the event for three years from 2009-2011 prior to it coming to Auckland.
International Netball Federation (INF) president Molly Rhone said the governing body are now in negotiations with another nation - thought to be South Africa - to take on hosting duties for a further three years and she is hopeful of being able to make an announcement on the tournament's future at the end of the weekend. The INF board meet in Auckland tomorrow, where the hosting rights for the next Fast5 will likely feature high on the agenda.
"We are talking to another country right now, it is probably too early to say who that country is. We'd had some very fruitful discussions and I hope after the board meeting we will have a more definitive statement," said Rhone.
Rhone said if the INF are unable to get a deal with another nation finalised this week, she is still confident the Fast5 concept can survive.