The NSW Waratahs expect to know by early next week whether they can add Queensland flyer Digby Ioane to their mid-year backline rugby shopping spree.

Having already secured two other Test backs and Queensland products in Berrick Barnes and Drew Mitchell plus centre Rory Sidey, NSW still have room on their roster for one outside back and one second-rower.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey revealed he had held further discussions with Ioane on Thursday.

"Earlier in the week I would have thought that Digby had made up his mind and committed himself (to Queensland)," Hickey told reporters on Friday.

"But in the last conversation he indicated that he hasn't formally signed and he would like a couple of days to think about the decision."

Hickey said Barnes' decision could influence Ioane's thinking and he hoped to get a decision from the powerful outside back by early next week.

While Hickey said the Waratahs were also looking at backs from overseas, he said Ioane was their primary target as he had a preference for an Australian.

The NSW coach said the list of candidates for the vacant lock spot included players from South Africa, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and they hope to make a decision on the position within a "couple of weeks".

Hickey said Barnes, who lined up at inside centre for Australia for most of the last year, also wanted to be looked at as a five-eighth.

"He (Barnes) says he will play at 10 or 12, whichever best suits the Waratahs, but he also wanted the option to be looked at as a 10 and not just thinking of him as a 12," Hickey said of Barnes.

The Waratahs mentor stressed he had plenty of options and flexibility with Kurtley Beale and Daniel Halangahu also capable of playing at five-eighth and inside centre.

Meanwhile NSW Rugby Union chief executive Jim L'Estrange said he expected his organisation to report a loss of between $225,000 to $275,000 for 2009.

L'Estrange anticipated 2010 would be another fairly tough year for his organisation.

He said most of their major sponsors were locked in for next year, but between $600,000 to $700,000 worth of current sponsorship still needed to be renewed for 2010.

He said a Western Sydney team would not be his organisation's preference for the extra Super spot available for 2011.

"If it so happens that Western Sydney get that offer, they need to know that they are going to be competing against the NSW Waratahs and it's going to be tough for them," L'Estrange said.

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