Thanks for the info.
Will get a plug for the return.
Another question, our water has a very high TA level and it took quite some time and work to get the level from 360ppm to 120.
Could I get by with using a skimmer cover along with the return plug and not drain the pool to below the return fitting as I have done in the past?
Sure would make winter cover fit better since it wouldn't need to drop so far into water level and actually have a little slack along the wall uprights and save time re adjusting the TA next spring.
The winters here are returning to the 1960's era.
thanks