We have examined the tea leaves, tarot cards and animal entrails and it is inconclusive.
But Otago all-rounder Nathan McCullum appears poised to nab a national contract.
New Zealand Cricket is expected to release its list of 20 contracted players within the next week or so.
The national selectors have signed off on the list and are waiting for the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association to give its nod of approval.
Then it is just up to the board to ratify the contracts.
Players' Association boss Heath Mills said negotiations were "going well, but we're not quite there yet. Hopefully, it will be soon".
Until then, the rest of us can only speculate who is in and who is out.
Captain Daniel Vettori, vice-captain Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee and Daryl Tuffey appear certainties.
The next group of Jeetan Patel, Gareth Hopkins, Tim McIntosh, Jacob Oram, Grant Elliott and Otago all-rounder Ian Butler should retain their contracts.
Ageing fast bowler Chris Martin and steady journeyman Brent Arnel's chances of keeping their contracts have been aided by the retirement of pace bowlers Shane Bond and Iain O'Brien.
But the likes of Neil Broom and Daniel Flynn may feel nervous with others making a stronger case for inclusion.
Broom could see his spot go to Otago team-mate Nathan McCullum, who was picked ahead of him for the Tri-Nations series against Sri Lanka and India in Sri Lanka in August.
McCullum has impressed with his performances for the Black Caps, particularly in the World Twenty/20 Cup this year.
His ability to tie up an end with frugal off-spinners, his outstanding athleticism in the field and innovative batting has enabled him to move ahead of many of his rivals.
However, Broom has not disappeared from the selectors' radar.
He has been included, alongside Otago top-order batsman Aaron Redmond and Flynn, in a New Zealand A team which will contest an emerging players' tournament in Australia in August.
But both Broom and Flynn appear to have slipped behind McCullum in the pecking order and, indeed, impressive Northern Districts batsman Kane Williamson.
The 19-year-old had a stunning domestic season and it seems just a matter of when, not if, he will make his international debut.
Northern Districts opener BJ Watling is the latest in a long list of batsman tried at the top of the Black Caps test order.
He is likely to get further opportunities, and a contract, after a promising beginning in the role.
Wellington left-arm quick Andy McKay made a positive impact before he got injured midway through the summer.
New Zealand's bowling stocks are hardly flush, so his name should appear on the list.
However, with just three one-dayers against Bangladesh under his belt, he is far from a proven international performer.
Arguably, though, he is a better long-term prospect than Martin, who looked spent by the end of the summer.
Since the last contracting period, Hopkins' value has risen, particularly with Brendon McCullum's decision to ditch the gloves at test level.
Canterbury keeper Reece Young is highly-rated and his selection in the New Zealand A team an indication he is not far from the selector's minds either.
The contracts are awarded to those assessed as likely to have the greatest value to the Black Caps in the next 12 months.
The selectors rate players in limited-overs and test cricket.
The players with the highest aggregate score are offered contracts.
NZ Cricket
The contracts
2009-10: Brent Arnel, Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Daniel Flynn, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien (replaced by Daryl Tuffey), Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori.
Certainties: Vettori, McCullum, Guptill, Taylor, Ryder, Mills, Southee, Tuffey
Probables: Hopkins, Patel, Oram, McIntosh, Butler, Elliott
Retired: Bond, O'Brien
Chopping block: Flynn, Franklin, Broom, Martin, Arnel
Contenders: Andrew McKay, BJ Watling, Nathan McCullum, Kane Williamson, Aaron Redmond
Unlucky: Peter Ingram, Reece Young, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris
Possible 20: Vettori, Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Guptill, Ryder, Mills, Southee, Tuffey, Oram, Elliott, Butler, McIntosh, Patel, Hopkins, Watling, Nathan McCullum, Martin, Arnel, Williamson.
