MANLY last night stepped up negotiations to keep Brett Stewart as the mid-season merry-go-round went into overdrive ahead of Saturday's transfer deadline.
The short-term futures of at least six players will be known over the next four days, with the main developments including:
* THE Roosters snapping up Penrith hooker Nafe Seluini to replace Anthony Mitchell, who yesterday joined the Cowboys.
* VETERAN winger Sam Perrett in continuing talks with the Roosters about a release to join his brother Lloyd at Canterbury.
* PENRITH circling Raiders lower-grader Michael Picker for depth in the halves.
* NEWCASTLE'S player clean-out stalling, with injury-ravaged Canberra unable to find enough cap space to sign Richie Fa'aoso, Wes Naiqama or Junior Sa'u.
Josh Dugan (ankle 4-8 weeks), Trevor Thurling (shoulder 6-8 weeks) and Joel Thompson (hand 1-2 weeks) all joined Canberra's casualty list yesterday.
And with David Shillington on Origin duty, the Green Machine are desperately undermanned for Monday's Dragons clash.
The Raiders have been on the lookout for a new prop since Brett White (knee) was ruled out for the season and Shillington suffered a recurrence of his pectoral injury.
After missing out on Eels prop Justin Poore, Canberra turned their attention to Fa'aoso.
However, Knights officials also wanted the Raiders to take either Naiqama or Sa'u - both of whom are contracted beyond this season - to complete the deal.
Two new recruits would stretch Canberra's 2013 salary cap, meaning the club must release a player to comply. Bronson Harrison has emerged as a possible candidate, with Knights coach Wayne Bennett an admirer of the Kiwi from his role in New Zealand's successful 2008 World Cup campaign.
But Raiders boss Don Furner last night said the club had been unable to free up cap space.
The Roosters would also prefer to sign a new outside back before allowing Perrett to go. Mitchell's departure was helped by fruitful discussions with Seluini, who now appears certain to switch to Bondi Junction this week.But the highest-profile free agent is Stewart, who has attracted interest from European rugby and the Dragons.
Manly's negotiations with Stewart continued yesterday but with the Blues fullback now focused on Origin III, a decision is not expected for at least another fortnight