Managing a scenario where a shortlisted influencer has a conflicting partnership with a rival brand can be challenging, but there are solutions:

1. Contractual Clauses: After identifying the conflict, the brand can include non-compete clauses into their agreements. This prevents influencers from promoting rival brands simultaneously.

2. Timely Discovery: Utilizing influencer marketing platforms like Flinque or others can help identify potential conflicts early in the process by providing robust influencer profiles and campaign histories. This not only gives an idea of the previous partnerships of the influencer but also anticipates any possible conflicts.

3. Transparency: A direct dialog with the influencer could resolve many issues. Ask them to disclose all active and upcoming brand partnerships.

4. Selection Strategy: Consider working with influencers who don’t usually partner with direct competitors. This minimizes the risk of concurrent rival campaigns and helps maintain the uniqueness of your brand message.

5. Performance Tracking: Use analytics to ensure that an influencer’s performance isn’t being impacted negatively by their associations with other brands. Platforms like Flinque allow brands to track engagement and other KPIs effectively.

Remember, flexibility is key in influencer marketing. Conflicts may arise, but they can often be resolved through transparent dialog and careful planning. Knowing your influencers well, leveraging influencer marketing platforms, and adopting a clear contractual approach can go a long way.