The Highlanders First XV competition is still without a major sponsor and a 16th team, but committee chairman Don McFarlane is not yet ''losing too much sleep over it''.
It has been more than two months since Fulton Hogan, the major sponsor over the past three years, pulled its support on the competition, leaving administrators hunting for a replacement.
Fulton Hogan's backing kept the entry fee for schools down to $3500 by contributing to travel expenses, easily the biggest cost faced by teams in a competition that costs about $90,000 to run annually.
With less than three months until the competition is scheduled to kick off, McFarlane said progress in finding a replacement had been made since the committee submitted proposals to prospective sponsors last November.
''We are looking at a couple [of sponsors] at the moment, and if one or the other doesn't come fully to the party then we may look at spreading it out somehow. But we're still trying to nail down that naming rights sponsor.
''But time is ticking by, and it would be nice to get it done sooner rather than later. At this stage, we're just taking it on a weekly basis. We are making some progress, but it's not at the point yet where we can do anything about it,'' he said.
As well as hunting for a major sponsor, the committee approached ''some'' community and gaming trusts last month and got a ''reasonably positive reception from them'', McFarlane said.
McFarlane had originally hoped to have a major sponsor signed by the end of this month, but said there was still time to find one well before the season kicks off.
''We're not hanging ourselves on it, at this stage. Obviously, if we get to the end of February and we haven't got anything, then we are going to have to have a good look at how we might do things or if we need to do something different.''
The 16th and final team for the coming season is also yet to be confirmed a few months out from start of the competition.
While Otago Boys' High School has ditched the schools competition to play in the Dunedin premier colts grade, Taieri College, Kavanagh College and one unconfirmed team will boost the number of teams from 14 to 16 this year.
Finding the final piece of the 16 team puzzle and avoiding a bye is something McFarlane hopes can also be sorted sooner rather than later.
''Schools are only just getting back,'' he said.
''It won't be until they are fully back and we can talk to them and we will know where things are at.
''Verdon College has said no at this stage, but they may reconsider that when they get their team together and see what sort of strength they have got.''
He did not know if Logan Park High School and Wakatipu High School were interested, but threw their names into the mix, and said Northern Southland College and Fiordland College ''could put something together between them''.
Once the 16th team is confirmed, the committee will put together a draft draw.
''We will try and get the basis of the draw by the end of February, so the schools can all have a look at it and get it all nailed well before they kick off,'' McFarlane said.
The revamped model of the Highlanders competition kicks off on Anzac Day.
