The decision on where the new Super 15 rugby franchise will be located is expected to be announced in around two weeks' time.

Sanzar, the governing body of the Super rugby competition which involves teams from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, has named the independent expert determination panel which will decide between South Africa's Southern Kings franchise and Australia's preferred bid from Melbourne.

The South African, New Zealand and Australian unions failed to reach a unanimous decision on who would be the 15th team at a Sanzar executive committee meeting in Brisbane last week.

That binding decision will now rest in the hands of former New Zealand World Cup-winning captain David Kirk and retired High Court judge, the Hon Barry Paterson QC.

The panel will review Sanzar documentation and the detailed applications received from the respective unions supporting their bids.

The panel may also request further information from the member unions if necessary.

Kirk is the former chief executive of Fairfax media and the president of the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association.

Paterson is the chairman of the New Zealand Sports Tribunal and a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He is also a former New Zealand Cricket board member.

The expanded competition is due to begin in 2011 and will be split into three conferences of five teams with the new franchise based in the Australian conference.

The competition will run from late February to early August with a three week break for international commitments in June.