Even players at the Sydney Sixers' rival franchises are urging Cricket Australia to pull out all stops to lure Steve Smith back to the Big Bash League this summer.
The BBL is hoping interest generated by the inaugural international draft and the return of high-profile Australians such as David Warner and Cameron Green can bolster crowd figures after two COVID-affected summers.
The playing status of Australia's best-known active cricketer Smith remains uncertain, though.
The former Test captain is a passionate, championship-winning Sixer but has yet to follow his national teammates and put his name down to play in the BBL after Australia finishes hosting South Africa on January 8.
With the competition beginning next week, time is running out for the Sixers, who will need to get creative to entice Smith back.
The Sixers have yet to unveil the final two members of their 18-man squad but AAP understands the spots have been filled - and neither by Smith - though the BBL are set to explore options.
The Sixers will lose international signings Chris Jordan and James Vince to the UAE T20 league around the same time Smith becomes available but the BBL have yet to publicly confirm whether he could be a like-for-like replacement for one of the Englishmen.
It is unlikely Smith would sign on as a replacement player for the Sixers, with the $2500 match fee on offer probably not enough to tempt the 33-year-old into magenta given the busy international calendar ahead.
Another option could be for the Sixers to request the league help subsidise Smith's contract as they have Warner's.
To repatriate Warner to the BBL after nine years, CA has designated part of his salary as a marketing spend in anticipation he will help bring fans back to the game.
"If that's what we've got to do, I mean I can't speak on behalf of (the BBL), but we all want the best talent playing in this competition," Sixers wicketkeeper Josh Philippe told AAP.
"(Smith) absolutely loves playing for the Sixers so there's no reason why we won't try to get him again."
The BBL have already bungled one attempt at bringing the 33-year-old back.
Smith had been keen to sign on with the Sixers as a replacement player last summer but was denied on the grounds he was not a member of the approved player pool instituted to help teams combat COVID-19 outs.
"I thought they might've missed a trick last year," Melbourne Renegades captain Nic Maddinson told AAP.
"Any time we can have our international players play in the Big Bash, we should be allowing them to.
"I'd love to see all the Cricket Australia Test players on a list somewhere, whether they play or not. Availability and stuff like that comes into it."
Adelaide Strikers captain and former Test paceman Peter Siddle said Smith would go a long way to helping the BBL overcome its crowd concerns.
"The fan following (Smith) has is massive," Siddle told AAP.
"He's the greatest Australian batsman of recent times. He's someone you want back.
"Yes, it's a tough summer, I've done it, playing Test cricket and trying to come back (to the BBL) is hard.
"But if there's any opportunity to get those guys back in their Big Bash colours, whichever team they play for, it's a must."
