The Samoa Rugby Union expects to name a new Manusina head coach early in the new year.
The position has been vacant since the death of the former Manu Samoa captain Papali'itele Peter Fatialofa in November.
Papaliitele coached the women's team to World Cup qualification earlier this year and was to have led the team at next year's tournament in France.
The CEO of the Samoa Rugby Union, Fred Amoa, says a shortlist of names to take over the team has been identified.
"The process has started and we're still going through [it] - one of our senior managers, Tuala Mathew Vaea, is very much involved in that process at the moment. We'll probably try and finalise early next year whoever is going to be taking over."
The CEO of the Samoa Rugby Union, Fred Amoa.