Cricket Victoria chief Tony Dodemaide expects Glenn Maxwell to remain a Bushranger next season, but the all-rounder has yet to lock in his plans.
Maxwell, the Victorian and Australian all-rounder, had sought a clearance to play for NSW last year but applied after the transfer window closed.
His season began in controversy when he was overlooked for the Sheffield Shield opener against Tasmania, but he played in three matches (129 runs at 25.8) and later earned selection for the Test tour of India, where he notched a maiden century on returning to the side for the third Test in Ranchi.
Fairfax Media understands Maxwell, 28, is leaning towards remaining with the Bushrangers but a final call won't be made until Cricket Australia releases its contract list, expected to be this month, with the transfer window then opening.
Maxwell wants to bat in the top four for the Bushrangers, which would enhance his hopes of retaining his Test spot. He has yet to address this with Victorian selectors and coach Andrew McDonald. What will help him in this regard is that Matthew Wade is heading back to Tasmania, while Marcus Stoinis could return to Western Australia to be closer to his family. Wade and Stoinis had batted ahead of him.
Dodemaide said the indications are Maxwell, 28, will remain with the Bushrangers.
"From everything I have heard, through Shaun Graf and the cricket operations area there ... it's all good," he said.
"Glenn had those contemplations at the start of last year but, as far as I am aware, he is happily moving forward with us. Obviously, that's what we want. He is a terrific young player and he has taken some great steps forward, making his first Test hundred, and hundreds in all three forms of the game, and we hope that he is an Australian player for a long period to come, and a Victorian in the meantime."
Maxwell's frustration with the Bushrangers came after he was told he would bat in the lower order. He is good friends with NSW skipper Moises Henriques, who reportedly had offered the Victorian a spot at No.3 or No.4 in the Blues' batting line-up if he made the move north.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann has issued Maxwell a challenge ahead of next summer's Ashes series after he finished the Indian tour strongly by top-scoring with 45 in Australia's second innings in the fourth and final Test in Dharamsala.
"In the top six, you still want to make it as a batsman. Obviously, Mitch Marsh is more of a bowling option and Glenn more the batting option. I'm pleased for him to get the hundred and the challenge now is obviously for him to keep his spot and play well," he said.
Maxwell is set to be a key player in Australia's quest to capture the Champions Trophy in England in June.
His growing maturity was reinforced when he was named captain of Indian Premier League franchise Kings XI Punjab, with the 10th edition of the rich Twenty20 tournament starting this week.
Despite never having captained a major side outside of a handful of Futures League and club matches, Maxwell won the position ahead of England T20 skipper Eoin Morgan and Darren Sammy, who has led the West Indies to two T20 World Cup titles.
A strong T20 campaign could also put him in contention to lead the Bushrangers next season. Victoria will have several options, including Peter Handscomb, Aaron Finch and Cameron White.
Tasmanian gloveman Tim Paine is considering a shift to Victoria where he has a job opportunity with Kookaburra but he could stay if the Tigers, undergoing a major review by former Australian player Mike Hussey, offer him a two-year deal.
"That hasn't been addressed. It's just now the off-season, people are taking leave and the guys are heading off to the IPL and county cricket and all that sort of stuff. We will do a proper review of the season if and when people have had a chance to take a breath," Dodemaide said.
