The 2020 Rugby Championship will reportedly be reduced to three rounds in a last-minute compromise for South Africa to contest the tournament.
On Wednesday (NZ time), South Africa Rugby was given 48 hours to confirm its involvement in the tournament in Australia.
South Africa's players have only just returned to action after a long COVID-19 lockdown, with their own domestic Super Rugby competition, while New Zealand and Australia have completed theirs.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the Springboks want to play the All Blacks, Wallabies and Pumas just once each - under the same three-round format used in World Cup years - citing player welfare.
South Africa are due to open their campaign against Argentina on November 7, but they would need to leave for Australia on October 18 to complete their two-week quarantine and train for a full week.
The delay would allow players much-needed game time during South Africa's Super Rugby competition.
The report adds that SANZAAR considered adding a Barbarians or Australia 'A' side for the first half of the series, but broadcasters rejected the idea.
If the tournament is reduced, Argentina might play warm-up fixtures, as their players also haven't played since March.
Two Bledisloe Cup tests between the All Blacks and Wallabies will proceed as planned, in Sydney on October 31 and Brisbane on November 7.
With the tournament due to finish on December 12, South African players face Christmas Day in quarantine, according to SuperSport.
All Blacks assistant John Plumtree hopes South Africa take part.
"The disappointing thing was they couldn't get their Currie Cup going quick enough and the longer that got delayed, the harder it was always going to be for them to get match-hardened, match-ready," says Plumtree, who won the South African provincial competition as a player and coach.
"That was one of the contributing factors in them making that decision. They just don’t have time.
"They're world champions as well, so to come down here... if they don’t feel ready, they're not going to put that on the line."
All Blacks midfield Anton Lienert-Brown says they certainly want to play against the game's top-ranked team.
"They're the best in the world and that gets me going, that's who you want to play against," he says. "It's a tag we've had for a long time and it's what we're striving for."
A final decision is expected on Friday.
Join us at 4pm Sunday for live updates of the second All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test
