Steamers coach Sean Horan certainly wouldn't say no to a guest appearance by former star Glen Jackson this season - but in the meantime he's pressing ahead with his original plans for Bay rugby's No 10 jersey.

Those plans took a major shaking this week with news All Black Mike Delany has been ruled out for the next six months, although as Horan points out, Steamers staff hadn't been expecting him back from test duty anytime soon.

Ranfurly Shield-winner Jackson is due back in a month, meanwhile, to take up a refereeing contract with the NZRU, after an illustrious English career with Saracens.

It's the rugby equivalent of losing LeBron James and having Michael Jordan turn up on your doorstep - but Horan won't be rushing to the airport to meet the 34-year-old returning star.

"If anyone of that calibre came to us and said they could run the ship for us, we'd have to have a look at it - the only problem is he'd be standing there telling everyone they're offside, including the referee!" Horan said.

"We're pretty positive and confident with the guys we've got but Jacko's a Bay boy and if he could postpone his reffing until the end of the season, we'd listen for sure."

The guys they've got include recent signing Dan Waenga, who arrived in Mount Maunganui this year after 30 games for Hawke's Bay and a season with North Otago last year, Te Puke's Nick McCashin and Tauranga's Phil Burleigh.

The heat has gone on those three in Baywide club rugby - although Burleigh is involved with the Chiefs wider training group - with a series of important matches looming tomorrow.

McCashin's Te Puke travel to Whakarewarewa for their match, while Waenga's Mount team host rampant Tauranga Sports in the Battle of the Bridge contest.

Two other fringe first-fives are Rotoiti's Whakataki Cunningham, who travels with his team to Te Teko tomorrow, while Opotiki welcome back Sam Howe for their match with Te Puna. Howe, a scratch golfer, missed last week's 40-6 loss to Tauranga as he was playing in the New Zealand amateur championships in Hastings.