It is believed the franchise has come to a deal with Thorn to play in the South next year but the Highlanders were yesterday staying tight-lipped about any possible move.
Highlanders general manager Roger Clark had no comment to make on Thorn when contacted yesterday.
He said the franchise had always taken the position that it would not comment on player recruitment until everything was signed off and the contract was completed.
Clark said the franchise was continuously linked with players and he would not comment on every possible signing.
Thorn would be a great coup for the franchise if he came.
He has links with the area, being born in Mosgiel, and having lived some time in Cromwell.
With locks Josh Bekhuis and Jarrad Hoeata already signed for the franchise next year, Thorn would be a logical addition to the team.
Thorn, who turns 38 in February, is playing in Japan for Fukuoka Sanix Blues, in the final year of his two-year contract.
Thorn may be in the Highlanders' sights but a decision by Sanzar has further clouded the future of Highlanders prop and skipper last seasn, Jamie Mackintosh.
The IRB had signalled its intention to go to an eight-man bench, including two props.
But Sanzar has aannounced it will not be carrying an eight-man bench, whatever the decision from the IRB, and instead will stick with seven players.
Clark said the New Zealand franchises were keen to move to an eight-player bench but the teams from the other two countries were not as keen so the decision was to stay with the status quo.
With experienced All Black loosehead prop Tony Woodcock joining the Highlanders for the next two seasons, coach Jamie Joseph had earlier signalled depth was needed at prop, as he expected the eight-man bench to be introduced.
But with this no longer an option and Woodcock almost certain to be a starter, Mackintosh may not see much playing time.
He has limited experience in playing on the tighthead side, having only flirted with the No 3 jersey in a couple of games for Southland over the years.
Mackintosh has a contract with the Highlanders for next year and is still wanted by the franchise.
Meanwhile, whatever the make-up of the Highlanders squad, it will number more than last year, Clark said. A squad of 35 is to be named.
Squads for the 2013 season have to be finalised by the end of this month and Clark said in essence the members of the wider training squad would be part of the actual squad.
They would be paid more than last year and would train continuously with the squad.
In previous years they would train with the squad initially and then come back in when required, usually covering for injury.
But from this season the wider training squad players would train fulltime and could be picked for the starting team from the first match.
Clark said five of the last seven players picked for the squad of 35 had to be from Otago or Southland and he said in all likelihood all seven would be from the two provinces.
