Tumbarumba’s dire situation in Group Nine could could provide Tumut with some much needed fresh faces.
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Officials from both clubs met on Monday night to discuss the possibility of creating portability to allow players to transfer between the two.
Tumbarumba president Larry Collins believes it is up to the players to decide how to move forward from the hard situation.
“The only real chance (for football) is if they go for this portability or we go into recess and it is every man for himself then,” Collins said.
“That is going to make it hard if we want to come back.”
Tumut co-coach Dean Bristow was unsure what it would mean for his team.
“They were going to talk among and their players and see what they wanted to do,” Bristow said.
“We are more or less struggling with girls numbers.”
After making a massive leap forward last season, the Blues are almost starting from scratch again.
Hooker Jacob Toppin, who was the competition's leading pointscorer in 2017, has followed former coach Jarrad Teka to Canberra Raiders Cup club Yass.
Bristow confirmed halfback Raymond Luke and front rower Gordon Karaitiana are also not returning.
It comes after best and fairest winner Tamati Ioane, young forward Jake McGrath and outside backs Moses Esera and Masivesi Dakuwaqa were confirmed as departures late last year.
In what is becoming a worry, the Blues are yet to secure any new faces.
And it hasn't been through a lack of trying.
"We've been talking to a lot of players who seemed like they were coming then decided not to," Bristow said.
"We are still looking."
As it stands co-coach Adam Pearce, second rower Ben Roddy and man mountain Dan Kilian are the only new faces from last year who are playing on in 2018.
Pearce and Roddy returned to their junior club as the new-look roster helped the Blues to a preliminary final appearance.
After going from wooden spooners in 2016 to being beaten by Gundagai in the game before the grand final.
Bristow is looking to rely more on Tumut's young talent.
"We aren't too worried, we obviously know we need a couple, but we aren't at panic stations that is for sure," he said.
"We have a few young kids who can quite easily make the step this year but would like one or two, or three, to fill in a couple of blanks."
Tumbarumba has until Monday to make a decision about their future and Collins is looking to consult more with the players.
