Lachie Neale's contentious switch from Fremantle to Brisbane is one of several deals that will take centre stage when the AFL trade period heats up on Monday.
There was little movement, in the public eye at least, over the weekend with Tom Langdon's decision to stick with Collingwood the only major development.
But trade activity will likely kick up several gears after two days of back room talks involving clubs and player managers ahead of Wednesday's 8.30pm (AEDT) deadline.
Neale's future is a sticking point for him and others.
The Dockers made the shock move of breaking off talks with Melbourne over a deal for Jesse Hogan on Friday.
But if they relent and land Brisbane's No.5 pick to release Neale those talks could quickly resume.
If the Lions have Neale safely in their keeping, they might be more inclined to allow Dayne Beams to return to Collingwood.
The Pies had a win on Saturday when Langdon's future became clearer.
The 24-year-old is set to reject significant interest from rival AFL clubs to sign a contract extension with the Magpies.
The intercept-marking specialist starred in Collingwood's recent finals run that ended in a grand final defeat to West Coast.
But Fremantle, where Langdon's brother Ed has played 46 games in four seasons, and Sydney tabled strong offers after the Magpies were slow to re-sign him.
Langdon is holidaying with family in Africa but it is understood he informed the Swans via his manager on Saturday he would remain with Collingwood, where he has played 80 games since debuting in round one of the 2014 season.
He is set to be joined in the Pies' back half by Western Bulldogs tall Jordan Roughead.
The restricted free agent had met with West Coast before they traded for St Kilda's Tom Hickey.
The free agency period closed on Friday afternoon, which means the Pies will need to work a trade for the versatile Roughead, who is on the outer at Whitten Oval.
Other key deals that remain unfinalised include Dylan Shiel's move from GWS to Essendon, Chad Wingard's trade from Port Adelaide to Hawthorn and Rory Lobb's move from the Giants to the Dockers.
Gold Coast co-captain Steven May (Melbourne or Collingwood) and GWS star Tom Scully (Hawthorn) could also be on the move.
KEY FREE AGENTS WHO REMAINED UNSIGNED AFTER THE DEADLINE:
* Jordan Roughead (Western Bulldogs)
* Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs)
* Daniel Menzel (Geelong)
* George Horlin-Smith (Geelong)
* Taylor Duryea (Hawthorn)
* Ryan Schoenmakers (Hawthorn)
* Jarryd Blair (Collingwood).
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