I have searched and found no clues about owning a domain name before it gets deleted from the current registrar. Backorder works but you will lose the domain history and is there a way to capture the domain name before the deletion.
If the name has some values, it is snap up by bidding compannies such as snapnames. If someone orders a backorder, no matter how quick you are, you wont get it. If you contact the owner, you will have to buy it at a price. there is a chance that no one wants it,...but that is only a chance.
You should contact the domain owner by email or phone and ask whether he want to sell it or not. If you offered the correct price then you should get the domain at ease.