Horse trading over mooted changes to the Australian Open dates continues but Graham Pearce insists any change will not come until 2006 at the earliest.
Pearce, tournament director for next week's Heineken Open and an ATP board member, said he was expecting an announcement from Tennis Australia "any time now".
"There have been a lot of discussions and I think I know what will happen," said Pearce. "It is likely they will move back a week."
The mooted shift for the two-week long Australian Open comes after representations from players keen for a longer off-season break and an extra week to prepare for the first Grand Slam of the new season.
The women's tour (WTA) and the men (ATP) have considered three options.
One was the status quo - generally the last two weeks in January. A second was putting the tournament back one week, and the third a new date, probably in March.
A change to March is considered too disruptive.
Any shift in dates across the Tasman would affect the Heineken Open and the women's ASB Classic.
"Whenever they play we will still have our tournaments before them. But there will have to be a bit of a trade-off, as other tournaments will be affected by any change," said Pearce.
Putting the Auckland tournaments back could bring some benefits, according to Pearce.
"The later the better for us in terms of corporate support," said Pearce.
"It could mean more night play.
"We have the advantage of owning our own stadium, whereas in some places in Europe and the US where they play indoors, they have to make stadium bookings well in advance."
Pearce is keen to resolve the issue as he already has the ASB sponsorship confirmed to 2006.
He is in negotiations with Heineken for another three years' support.
Both tournaments have enjoyed tremendous support in recent years, big name players continuing to use Auckland as a key stop in their build-up to the Australian Open.
Next week's Auckland event is no different, the world's No 5 Argentinian Guillermo Coria returning as top seed - a first for him - and bringing a raft of South Americans, including Gustavo Kuerten, with him.
Tennis: Australian Open tipped to move a week
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