The ACT Brumbies will push ahead with contract negotiations for coach Stephen Larkham and a host of players despite a turbulent week off the field that will see officials return to court next week.
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It's understood there were talks between the Brumbies and the ARU on Thursday about Larkham's future as the parties work together on a deal that could allow him to continue coaching in Super Rugby and for the Wallabies.
The Brumbies will play the Free State Cheetahs in South Africa on Sunday morning before returning to Canberra to walk into a back-room power battle between chief executive Michael Jones and the club's board.
Jones wants the club to operate business as usual and has called for breathing space to allow management to focus on contracts, sponsorship and ticket sales for the coming weeks.
Jones gained an injunction against the Brumbies board this week less than 24 hours after he was stood down from his duties.
The matter will return to the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday, where it is likely more details will emerge of the case before the matter is put aside for a later date.
The Brumbies have finalised David Pocock's contract to keep him in Canberra for the 2017 and 2018 seasons after he takes a sabbatical next year.
Jarrad Butler leads a list of players who are searching for new deals for the future.
Butler is back in Canberra after a knee injury ruled him out of the second game of the Brumbies' tour to South Africa, and he is set to miss up to six weeks.
However, the highly-rated versatile back-rower is viewed as the logical replacement for Pocock when he steps away from duties next year.
Ben Alexander, Nigel Ah Wong and Tom Staniforth are also off contract at the end of the season.
Larkham is weighing up whether he will continue his dual roles with the Brumbies and as Wallabies assistant coach.
He worked both jobs last year to help the Wallabies to the World Cup final and Test coach Michael Cheika wants him back on board.
Jones returned to work on Wednesday morning and immediately briefed his staff before turning attention to ticket sales for the Brumbies' clash against the Waikato Chiefs at Canberra Stadium on April 2.
He is also pressing ahead with the return of the ACT Kookaburras for the National Rugby Championships after deciding to scrap the Canberra Vikings.
The Vikings - formed by a three-way partnership between the Brumbies, Vikings Group and University of Canberra - played in the first two seasons of the NRC.
The formation of the team caused angst in Canberra club rugby ranks. But a return to Canberra's traditional rugby colours and a throwback to the Kookaburras name could mend bridges in the capital.
Jones called Canberra club rugby presidents together for a meeting at Brumbies headquarters on Wednesday night to discuss a hectic week.
The seven Canberra clubs hold power in the Brumbies boardroom, with 14 of a possible 23 votes tied up with the teams.
However, there was no push or vote to overthrow the board in a meeting that went for more than three hours.
The clubs are reluctant to flex any muscle until finding out all the facts and view the matter as an issue for the board and Jones to sort out.
Jones called an extraordinary board meeting on Monday, but it lasted just 14 minutes when he was told that he was being stood down indefinitely.
He was asked to hand over his keys, but returned to work less than 48 hours later when he was successful in gaining an injunction against the decision.
