TASMANIA could be about to lose a second key member of its batting line-up to his home state with Ed Cowan considering a return to New South Wales.
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Coach Dan Marsh yesterday revealed that Cowan was thinking about going home due to "reasons away from cricket", less than a week after Mark Cosgrove walked out on the Tigers and returned to South Australia.
"New South Wales are interested in him, but we're obviously having ongoing discussions with him," Marsh said.
"I think it's more of a life decision for Ed, but we're very confident that Ed will stay.
"We want Ed to be part of our group going forward. He'd be a huge loss for us as he's been a fine player for us at the top of the order.
"He's told us Tasmania is where he wants to be and play his cricket."
After being unable to establish himself in the Blues' batting line- up, Cowan's performances for the Tigers saw him graduate to the baggy green on 18 occasions.
The first-round contract window closes on Monday, with Marsh confident the 31-year-old will sign along with fellow international representatives Alex Doolan, Tim Paine and Ben Hilfenhaus, with Jordan Silk and Ben Dunk putting pen to paper yesterday.
Marsh said the Tigers were looking to recruit "guys on the edge of state teams who haven't had opportunities but have made a lot of runs in the level below, looking at the ages between 22-26".
The Tigers will need to accommodate the salaries of Cowan, Hilfenhaus and Xavier Doherty after the trio lost their Cricket Australia contracts.
South-Hobart Sandy Bay fast bowler Hamish Kingston is the only new addition to the list so far, with Harry Allanby, Ben Laughlin, Aiden Blizzard and Steve Cazzulino joining Cosgrove in the departures lounge.
TASMANIAN TIGERS 2014-15 full contracts: Ben Dunk, Jordan Silk, Luke Butterworth, Evan Gulbis, Sam Rainbird, Clive Rose, Jon Wells, Andrew Fekete, Timm van der Gugten, Hamish Kingston, Jackson Bird, Xavier Doherty, George Bailey, James Faulkner.
Rookie contracts: Ryan Lees, Beau Webster, Gabe Bell, Sean Willis.