NSW Waratahs front-rower Andrew Tuala is at the top of the Hunter Wildfires' recruitment list as coach Scott Coleman aims to lure Shute Shield players back to the region.
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Tuala lives in Newcastle and travels to Sydney to train and play for Southern Districts.
It's a routine that the 30-year-old, who is one of the favourites to win the Catchpole Medal for the Shute Shield player of the year, has been following for more than five years when previously at West Harbour and Norths.
With the Wildfires guaranteed a place in the Sydney competition, Coleman wants to bring Tuala and plenty of others home.
"We want to try and get the Newcastle boys back," Coleman said. "Andrew Tuala is top of my hit list. He is still driving down to Sydney three times a week.
"We have identified 20 Newcastle players playing first or second grade in Sydney. There are also some in Brisbane. Seven kids from our colts team [which folded] played down there this season."
In the past, Newcastle players have moved to Sydney in an attempt to gain exposure and make it to the next level - national rugby championship, overseas and Super Rugby.
But Coleman believes that is no longer the case. Henry Stowers was signed by the ACT Brumbies this year, Joe Tamani earned a call up to the NSW Waratahs squad, while Stowers, OJ Noa (Samoa) and Leon Fukofuka (Tonga) played Test rugby.
"Players understand now, that you can make it from Newcastle," Coleman said. "They have seen what Henry did, what OJ did and what Joe did. If you are good enough, you can make it."
Coleman recruited 22 players to the region - a requirement from Hunter clubs to prevent a player drain from the local competition - this season.
With a beefed up colts program returning next season, there will be less and less onus on attracting players from outside the region as the years go on.
For now, recruitment remains a key element in the quest for the finals.
"We have a strong base to build from," Coleman said.
"There is no hiding the fact that we have to recruit quality from outside the region.
"There are at least five quality players wanting to move up here from Sydney next season.
"We are not going to turn anyone away.
"My first port of call is local kids and Newcastle players wanting to come back."
A number of players from the Shute Shield, including Tuala, had been turning out for local clubs until the Newcastle lockdown forced the suspension of the Hunter competition.
The Wildfires start pre-season training in November.
"They will have a full off-season program leading into that," Coleman said.
"We need a sharp rise in our fitness and strength.
"The speed of the game and the ruck recycle are key areas. We will do more games at training, focusing on the transition period - at turnovers we were slow to react from attack to defence.
"Off set piece and structured play, we defended really well. But in transition, we got murdered.
"In the footy they were used to playing, you turn the ball over and you have three phases to get ready. In the Shute shield, you turn it over and the opposition scores if you are not ready."
