Champions League Twenty20 champions NSW will step up negotiations with India duo Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik after being brushed by West Indies power hitter Kieron Pollard for this summer's KFC Big Bash.
Pollard shocked Blues officials by signing with South Australia on Thursday after all but committing himself to the NSW cause.
The Windies whirlwind announced himself on the world stage with a hurricane-like knock of 54 from 18 balls against NSW in the recent Champions League in India, triggering a rush of late bids for his services.
"I really thought we had him over the line," NSW coach Matthew Mott told Sportal on Thursday.
"We spoke to him over in India and he was very keen to be involved."
"But when there are managers involved and there are different people pushing different ways, you've to expect things like this are going to happen."
Pollard's decision to sign up with the Redbacks has opened the door for either Karthik or Sharma to join the Blues ahead of the domestic Twenty20 season.
NSW will also re-open talks with destructive Sri Lankan keeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara should his country's upcoming tri-nations series against Bangladesh and India be cancelled.
"Sharma is a player of interest. He's an outstanding player and not in the India set-up at the moment, which is great for us," Mott said
"Dinesh Karthik was another we spoke to and there is always a chance Sangakkara could become available, so we've got a few options."
NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert admitted missing out on Pollard was an unexpected blow, but it would not deter him from chasing overseas talent.
"For us to get back to India for next year's Champions League, we've got to give ourselves every chance," he said.
"If that means bringing in an overseas player to help us achieve that, then great."
"It's disappointing to miss out on Pollard because Matthew Mott had had a number of chats with him and he'd given us a very positive indication, but we're not going to slit our wrists."
"The moment he did what he did against us he was going to be on the radar of just about every state."
"It shows unless you've got the ink on the paper it's not a done deal."
NSW will begin its domestic campaign with a Ford Ranger Cup clash against Western Australia at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.