Cronulla are set to table a long-term deal for Valentine Holmes as they attempt to keep him in the Shire.
The Sharks fullback is set to be hot property come November 1 with rival clubs able to negotiate with him as he prepares to come off contract at the end of next season.
The Townsville product has been heavily linked with North Queensland, with the Cowboys on the market for a blue chip star following the retirement of Johnathan Thurston.
The lure of being closer to his family is set to weigh heavily on the Queensland and Kangaroos flyer.
And while the Cowboys are expected to soon announce the signing of Ben Barba, he is set to only sign a one-year deal.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
That means that Barba could wear the Cowboys No.1 jersey next year before Holmes takes over in 2020.
With that scenario possible, the Sharks are gearing up for a fight.
Coach Shane Flanagan has already offered to "sell one floor of the leagues club" to retain him and said they were prepared to offer him a multi-year contract.
"We want to keep him here and we're in a position to offer a long-term but that will unfold after our last game," he said.
Holmes came into the year with questions hanging over him about whether he was best suited to fullback or wing.
However, he has answered that emphatically and he leads the competition for linebreaks (21) and is second for tries scored (21).
"I thought he did a fantastic job, there was a lot of pressure on him," Flanagan said in relation to the build-up to last weekend's clash with the Roosters.
"He dealt with the Tedesco-Holmes build up. He carried for over 300 metres and did exactly what we asked of him.
"He didn't have the usual Valentine Holmes game - scoring tries. But he was very, very close."
