Springbok lock Johan Ackermann may not be lost to South African rugby and he could still be playing for the Cats in the Super 12 and the Lions in the Bankfin Currie Cup this year.

Ackermann, who has played eight Tests for SA, signed a contract with English club Northampton at the end of last year, although he still had a binding contract with the Golden Lions Rugby Union.

Jomo King, chairman of the Cats Super 12 board and president of the GLRU, said at a news conference at Ellis Park on Thursday that finality would hopefully be reached within the next 48 hours.

"It appears if Northampton officials were not aware that he had a contract. The issue has dragged on for too long and we want to solve it as soon as possible.

"Johan did not use an agent when he signed a one-year deal (until the end of 2002) with the Lions. He was approach by three agents with offers to move overseas. Craig Livingstone (the agent who did the deal) should have known that he had a binding contract," said King.

King, coach Frans Ludeke, team manager Mac Hendricks and chief exececutive Johan Prinsloo, were also due to meet fullback Thinus Delport on Thursday afternoon to clear up his future.

Delport, who lost his place in the Springbok and Lions teams to incumbent Springbok No 15 Conrad Jantjes, only wants to play fullback this year, but Ludeke could not give him any guarantees of picking him in that position.

Delport has received a contract to move to Durban to play for the Sharks.

The Cats will play four Super 12 warm-up matches before their opening match against the Bulls on February 23.

They will be facing a combined side from Griqualand West and Free State on January 22 in Kimberley, followed by a match against a combined Griffons/Lions side on January 24 in Welkom.

They will also take on the Sharks on February 1 at Ellis Park and the fifth SA team on February 8 in Bloemfontein. - Sapa