Former Blues forwards coach Steve Jackson is being lined up to coach the Southern Kings, according to reports in South Africa.
Jackson, who assisted Blues head coach Tana Umaga for two years before Leon MacDonald replaced the latter late last year, has been shortlisted to replace Deon Davids at the Durban-based Kings.
The Kings are in the PRO14 competition which involves teams from South Africa, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy.
Jackson, who is currently contracted to coach Samoa through to the World Cup in Japan later this year, assisted Umaga for two seasons.
South African newspaper Rapport has reported Jackson is the only remaining candidate on the shortlist for the Kings job.
Other candidates are reported to have been Worcester Warriors coach Rory Duncan, and Cheetahs forwards coach Corniel van Zyl.
Duncan is said to be no longer wanted by the English club but has ruled himself out of the Kings job. Van Zyl doesn't have a Level 3 coaching certificate.
If Jackson was to take over the Kings, who are based in Port Elizabeth, he would need someone else to take charge at the start of the season because the team's first game is in late September.
Samoa will still be playing in the World Cup at that time.
Jackson, who guided North Harbour to the Mitre 10 championship title in 2016, switched to Samoa after MacDonald was appointed to take over from Umaga. The latter worked as an assistant at the Blues this year.