Smith (25) signed a further two-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union late last month, but is still to pen a deal with the Highlanders.
Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said it was logistics more than anything that had delayed Smith signing for the Highlanders.
With the players on leave straight after the end of the season, the Highlanders were waiting on Smith to get back to Dunedin to complete details.
Smith had gone overseas straight after the final game of the season against the Sharks in Durban and has not been back to Dunedin since.
''We've just got to get a few things tidied up and do a bit of paperwork but I'm confident his intention is that he is going to stay,'' Clark said.
Smith had talked previously of wanting to stay with the Highlanders and how much he enjoyed playing under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
It is usual for franchises to announce signings of players at the same time as players ink a deal with the national union but Smith did not do that.
That may have to do with Smith not being in Dunedin at that time and not wanting to sign a deal with the Highlanders until the franchise's season was over.
There has been speculation Smith is being pursued with a big-money offer from the Blues.
Clark said he had no knowledge of that. Players can only be paid the maximum $180,000 under the collective agreement but third-party deals have been used in the past couple of years to increase offers.
The Blues have spare cash after veterans Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu left the franchise.
The Highlanders also have the ability to call in cash from outside sources.
Meanwhile, Clark said former Highlanders halfback and captain Jimmy Cowan would be assessed like any other player, to see if he could return to the Highlanders next season.
Cowan, who played 108 games for the franchise, has returned to New Zealand and has linked with Tasman for the forthcoming ITM Cup.
The 32-year-old wanted to prove himself again at ITM Cup level, and told the Otago Daily Times if he was up to it he would be keen to play Super rugby again.
Clark said Cowan would be assessed like any other player in the ITM Cup and if the coaching staff wanted him he could be contracted.
''We have got something like 24 to 27 guys contracted for next season so we are looking for another 10 and Jimmy will be there playing.
"The coaches will be there watching and will make a decision.
''The guys work bloody hard at looking at the ITM Cup.
"Last year we had guys like Kane Hames, [Richard] Buckman, Malakai Fekitoa, come out of the ITM Cup, so we did pretty well.''
Clark added the region had some promising halfbacks, the likes of Josh Renton, Tayler Adams and Scott Eade, all looking to have big provincial seasons.
