The Greg Inglis mystery could be solved within the next 48 hours with Brisbane far from out of the race for the NRL rugby league star's hotly contested signature.
It's been more than three weeks since Brisbane put forward their official offer in the vicinity of $NZ500,000 a season.
After releasing several players to keep under budget in 2011, salary cap rorters Melbourne are now better positioned to fend off bids for their superstar centre who is also consdering offers from the Titans and South Sydney.
The battle for Inglis could be known within the next couple of days following a series of talks in the past week involving his manager Allan Gainey, Melbourne and NRL salary cap chief Ian Schubert.
It's understood the sticking point remains the exit payment Melbourne would have to make to top up Inglis's reported $NZ817,000-a-season contract should he go to another NRL club next season.
However it's believed the negotiating parties are very close to making a decision on Tuesday or Wednesday.