The new Perth franchise will have up to 70 players it can target for its new Super 14 team.

While the depth and quality of the squad is another thing altogether the West Australians have some choice.

There are up to 30 current locally-based Super 12 players coming off contract, 20 Australian-based players plying their trade in Europe who may be available and a select group of talented juniors who could potentially play for Perth.

The perception is Australian rugby is a little thin in the player ranks but ARU high performance manager Brett Robinson said it was deceptive.

"We are pretty confident that within the player ranks that we've got in terms of players coming off contract in Australia, players overseas and some of the youth coming through that there will be talent available," he said.

First stop is Europe.

A number of players will come off contract towards the end of February 2005 with possible targets to include French player of the year and former Waratahs pivot Manny Edmonds and winger Scott Staniforth.

Domestically there will be a bun fight for the existing Super 12 teams to retain players and the new Perth franchise to poach enough talent to make for a successful inaugural season.

Australian winger Clyde Rathbone, who appeared conspicuously on a Wallabies poster at the Perth headquarters, will be a certain target, perhaps with the lure of the captaincy to boot.

Brumbies teammate Matt Henjak who struggles to get a run with George Gregan and Matt Giteau in the side, seems an obvious pick-up at halfback.

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