Charles Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a man who thinks ahead: Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley named two conservative senators as preferred replacements for a potential Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Samuel Alito‘s retirement, as Republicans race to lock in a younger conservative before control of the chamber potentially shifts hands. Grassley told reporters on Capitol Hill that he would recommend either Senator Ted Cruz of Texas or Senator Mike Lee of Utah if Alito stepped down. “I hope he doesn’t retire,” Grassley said.

“But if he does retire, I’m going to suggest that either Lee or Cruz be put on the Supreme Court.” Cruz and Lee are 55 and 54. Alito is 76: Clarence Thomas will be 78 in June but I think it’s a pretty safe bet that he’s going to be carried out feet first (next month he’ll become the second-longest tenured justice in the mostly dismal history of that institution). Just spitballing here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the play is something like, Alito announces early in the fall that he’s retiring, if only to juice turnout among the fundie base in November.

In October, the Senate holds fairly cursory hearings for one of their own — as absurd as any deference would be in this situation, you know that’s how it will play, even with someone as personally loathsome as Cruz, and as cult-like in his fealty to Trump as Lee (not that Cruz is far behind him in that category either). Then if the Dems win the Senate, one of them will be formally confirmed during the lame duck session. But if the GOP holds on, don’t be surprised if Alito has a change where his heart is supposed to be, and sticks around for a couple more years.

In case you’re wondering, Alito’s announcement of his pending resignation can always be made contingent on the successful confirmation of a successor, so he could pull the plug on the whole thing at any time before that, and naturally there would be a nudge nudge wink wink understanding all along here. Say no more.