Rugby: Logjam at 10 when Carter comes home

The time might be ripe for Stephen Brett to consider his options. Photo / Getty Images

It's early days but belief is growing the Crusaders will come under pressure to give up one of their first fives next season.

Daniel Carter is expected back despite suggestions he may head to the Blues. His return from France will leave the Crusaders with three of the four best first five-eighths in New Zealand as Stephen Brett and Colin Slade are also on their books.

While the Crusaders will battle to give them game time, the Blues will be light on quality options as will the Hurricanes and Highlanders.

Daniel Bowden is shifting to Auckland and Luke McAlister is expected to provide cover at No 10 - but he is essentially a second five.

Losing Bowden will leave the Highlanders with just Matt Berquist from this year and they will have to hope a young talent emerges.

The Hurricanes will be reliant again on Willie Ripia, Daniel Kirkpatrick and Piri Weepu switching roles if needs be.

In 2005, when the Crusaders had Carter, Andrew Mehrtens and Aaron Mauger, Graham Henry tried to persuade one of them to shift to the Hurricanes. The All Black coach felt it was a waste of talent for someone of Mehrtens quality most likely not even on the bench most weeks.

When the squads were being finalised, Mehrtens was asked but didn't fancy shifting. Carter and Mauger turned down the invite and, as the Crusaders had protected all three, they all remained.

It is expected similar interference might be run again as, if Carter is fit, he will play most weeks. With Tim Bateman in the mix, there will be limited opportunity for Brett or Slade to slot in at No 12 and learn their business with Carter.

Brett in particular feels he would benefit from selection stability and an extended run where he can build his confidence. He has immense natural talent, vision and flair that no rival other than Carter possesses and it could be gainfully employed by the Blues, Hurricanes or Highlanders.

However, Canterbury coach Rob Penney believes a switch can work only if the player is willing.

"The athlete has got to want to do it," says Penney. "We saw that a few years ago - if the player doesn't want to go, it isn't going to benefit anyone trying to force him.

"That's not to say one of the boys might not decide to go, although I don't see why they would. You could argue that Colin is not getting the game time at first five but he will get that chance at some stage.

"It will be a challenge if DC [Carter] decides to come back but the boys will weigh everything up and make an informed decision."

Penney says that while it is a challenge persuading young players to be patient, the region has been hugely successful retaining promising talent. It has helped that those who have bided their time, have been rewarded. Also, the success of the Crusaders is hard to walk away from.

They have won three of the last four titles and were beaten finalists in 2003 and 2004. They took a further hat-trick of championships between 1998 and 2000 and another in 2002.

That success has made it hard for local men to shift. While they would love to play more, they recognise their career development is often better served playing a bit part in a winning team rather than a major role in a less-successful franchise.

For Brett in particular, the balance is shifting. He'll be 24 this year and knows Carter is committed to New Zealand until 2011.

Injury and lack of opportunity have seen Brett's career stall and he needs to ask whether playing for any team is a better option than being a squad man for the Crusaders.