Quade Cooper will play three more Super Rugby games for the Reds but his future, and who will fill the number 10 jumper beyond, that still remains unclear.
The odds of Cooper remaining at Ballymore are lengthening with the flyhalf expected to sign with Toulon as negotiations with the Reds and ARU continue.
The French club seemingly prematurely announced his signing on its Facebook page last month but Cooper is yet to make an official decision on his destination.
The next three matches could determine Cooper's place in the Wallabies pecking order as well with the pressure on to impress ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Reds coach Richard Graham said speculation on Cooper was just becoming white noise at the club.
"There's been that much speculation for so long I don't think it's worth commenting on," he said.
"Obviously it's there in the background, it's background noise, I can't control it so I'll try not to let it be consuming."
If Cooper does leave the options for a replacement may be thin on the ground at the Reds, who have experimented with half back Nick Frisby for much of the season because of injuries.
Twenty-one-year-old Jake McIntyre has been the most promising replacement for Cooper, playing 10 in the past fortnight, but Graham said a foreign player would be a viable option.
"That's certainly an option for us," he said.
"Everyone's in the market place and looking."
"Our first priority is obviously keeping Quade and then on the back of that you've just got to make decisions based on what you know at the time."
Graham described Cooper as a near certainty to play this weekend, returning from a broken shoulder blade.
Queensland was cautious with the 27-year-old, who was keen to return for last week's match against the Sharks. He only needs to make it through Monday afternoon's training session to be included.
"Given he was fairly confident last week I can't see any reason why he wouldn't be available for selection this weekend," Graham said.
One of the Reds' foreign recruits, Japan international Hendrik Tui, is still on the road to recovery.
Tui played a half of rugby for Norths in the premier grade competition but Graham said the number eight would likely need another week before contemplating a Reds debut.
The Reds play the Western Force on Saturday night and need to win to stay off the bottom of the Australian Conference ladder.
