KEY POINTS:
The spectre of a major clear-out at the Blues has sent a wave of excitement rather than dread through the region.
Even the prospect of losing Nick Evans and Isa Nacewa and being left without an experienced No 10 has failed to create panic.
That's not because anyone is in denial. Auckland coaches Pat Lam and Shane Howarth are aware they face a challenging season in not only trying to defend the provincial championship but also in bringing promising youngsters up to Super 14 standard.
But while it will be challenging, they have every faith the men they are backing will come through and be in contention for Blues' selection by the end of October.
One man who they have invested considerable time and faith in is Lachie Munro, the 21-year-old first five.
As Nacewa has confirmed he is joining Leinster in June and Evans expected to be involved with the All Blacks during the Air New Zealand Cup, Munro will be the starting No 10 for Auckland.
"It's a very big year for Lachie," says backs coach Howarth. "He's got all the skills, he just needs to learn how to dominate the game a bit more.
"There was a bit of awkwardness for him having to tell All Blacks what to do but he's getting used to that.
"First five is a big issue for us. Losing Isa is huge and we are not likely to have Nick. There has been a lot of talk around the player exodus and a belief that New Zealand has a conveyer belt of talent, which it does in certain positions, but we are feeling things a bit in Auckland around first five.
"I tend to look for a first five who has vision and who can play with his eyes up and see the space. It has taken Lachie a couple of years to get there and now he's got a fantastic opportunity."
It is an opportunity with plenty of pressure. The Blues will need a new first five in 2009 and Munro is the only man in the region whose development is advanced enough to come into the reckoning.
He'll have a maximum of 12 Air New Zealand Cup games to earn his chance at the next level.
That Munro will be asked to hone his craft quickly is not something for which Lam apologises.
Amid all the clamouring about rising debt and the non-appearances of All Blacks, it has gone unnoticed that the Air New Zealand Cup has evolved into a genuine feeder competition.
With greater volumes of established Super 14 players leaving New Zealand earlier in their careers, provincial hopefuls have less time to incubate.
Quite how fluid the player market is was shown last year when 19-year-old Grayson Hart went from being a virtual unknown to the Auckland team in weeks and will be pushing for a place in the Blues squad. His rapid elevation came when David Gibson and Steve Devine were injured.
Brenton Helleur was then crocked and, from fifth or sixth in the pecking order, Hart suddenly found himself backing up Taniela Moa in the senior squad and featuring 11 times.
"You can't be going from season to season," said Lam. "As a coach at this level you have a huge responsibility to look to the future and to see which positions have depth and where the region might be lacking.
"Whereas we used to have guys staying here until they were 29-30, now they are leaving in their mid-20s and the younger guys are going to get their opportunities earlier.
"I have already highlighted to our guys the opportunities they have by listing the names of the players who have left and who are looking to leave. We have put the carrot out there and stressed to the players that things are not that far off.
"What we have to do as coaches is prepare them so that they feel they have everything covered. I know from my time as a player that I didn't enjoy the game so much if I didn't know what my job was."
First five has the most obvious vacancies and with Danny Lee expected to retire, a back-up for Moa must be found.
Troy Flavell is off to Japan creating a hole at lock and loose forward places available as Justin Collins might call it quits and Daniel Braid will go to Europe if his All Black hopes are dashed.
