The Highlanders also appear unlikely to return to Queenstown next year for a Super rugby match though they may play a warm-up game in the resort.
The New Zealand Rugby Union announced on Friday a new policy on overseas players, which would allow up to two foreign players on any Super rugby side's roster.
But Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said yesterday he had no plans to bring overseas players into the Highlanders next year.
The criteria over the selection of foreign players are strict.
They can be picked only if there is no equivalent New Zealand talent available to the franchise, no more than one player per position across the five franchises, and no more than one foreign player per position in any of the five franchises.
The NZRU imposed the rules to find a balance between attracting top international talent while still trying to maintain player depth within New Zealand.
Joseph said yesterday it would not be easy to go out and get a foreign player for any side.
"You'd have to really know the player and if you didn't then it would be a bit of a punt.
"The players you are more looking at are the guys who have left New Zealand and gone overseas and are now looking to come back.
"We have nobody in the pipeline."
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said on Friday when announcing the policy that it may be too late for franchises to attract foreign players for next season but players may come for the 2012 season.
It will be hard to see what players of any talent will head south to play in New Zealand.
Only high-calibre players will add quality to a squad and these players may well be out of reach financially for any New Zealand side.
The likes of Brian O'Driscoll and Lee Byrne will be too expensive for any New Zealand franchise.
Meanwhile, though it had yet to be finalised, it appears there will be six games in Dunedin and two in Invercargill next year for the Highlanders.
Highlanders project manager Roger Clark said a board meeting early next month will decide on where the eight home games are played.
But Queenstown was looking unlikely as all the home games are scheduled for night.
Queenstown does not have any lights for its ground and with the resort's airport right beside the events centre it appears unlikely to be granted the approval to install temporary lighting.
The Highlanders were keen to play in Queenstown over Easter to capture part of the holiday crowd, but are playing the Crusaders in Christchurch that weekend.
Clark said they were in discussions to play a pre-season game in the town.
A pre-season game against the Crusaders has been scheduled for Oamaru on February 11.
It was confirmed yesterday that Otago lock Hayden Triggs has signed with the Chiefs.
Triggs had indicated last month he was looking at heading north after three years with the Highlanders, and he will join discarded All Black lock Isaac Ross at the Hamilton-based franchise.
