The Chiefs and Blues would love to snare Serge Lilo. Photo / Daily Post

The Chiefs and Blues would love to snare Serge Lilo. Photo / Daily Post

It is horse-trading time again. Having submitted their list of protected players, the five New Zealand franchises will spend Monday and Tuesday plugging holes in their squads in preparation for the Super 14.

Some moves, most notably Stephen Brett to the Blues, have been widely anticipated, but there will be plenty more intrigue when the squads are announced on Wednesday morning, particularly around openside flanker.

Of the five franchises, only the Crusaders (Richie McCaw and George Whitelock) and Hurricanes (Scott Waldrom, Serge Lilo and Karl Lowe) will feel adequately covered from within their region.

The Highlanders, with the proven Alando Soakai as their first choice, might feel comfortable using Adam Thompson as back-up, but he is in the process of establishing himself as a test No 6 and might not appreciate the job.

Halfback could also be a merry-go-round, with Piri Weepu's Wellington back-up Alby Mathewson transferring to Auckland and Toby Morland leaving Waikato for Munster.

BLUES

Comings: Mathewson (Wellington to Auckland), Luke McAlister (Sale Sharks).

Goings: Jimmy Gopperth (Newcastle Falcons), Tasesa Lavea (Clermont), Michael Hobbs (Otago), Josh Blackie.

The situation: The Blues' off-season strategy was pretty much an open book, with seemingly every international first five-eighths dating back to Ollie Campbell being fitted up for a guernsey.

Neither Gopperth nor Lavea quite hit the mark last year and with both signing for overseas clubs and doubts remaining over Daniel Bowden's ability to be a force at Super level, the search for a replacement became desperate.

The situation at halfback was not a lot different. Jimmy Cowan was evidently close to signing, but in the end, the news that Piri Weepu was going to play 9 rather than 10 for the Hurricanes encouraged Mathewson to seek more game time elsewhere.

Draft outlook: Brett will be charged with guiding the Blues around the paddock.

Openside flanker appears as much a problem position as first five. Josh Blackie will not return from Japan as he did last season and Onosa'i Auva'a's form dipped to such an extent for Auckland that starting him at Super rugby level is almost inconceivable.