For the second time in as many years the NRL could be forced into staging a semi-finals double header if the Sydney Swans lose their qualifying final to Fremantle this weekend.
The NRL are keen to avoid another finals double header after the disappointing crowd that attended last year, however they might have to rely on the Swans knocking over Fremantle to do so.
The only way the NRL will be forced into playing another double header at Allianz Stadium in week one of the finals is if four Sydney teams earn home finals and the Swans lose this weekend.
The teams that finish the regular season in first, second, fifth and sixth will play home finals in week one of the NRL series, with all Sydney teams to play at ANZ Stadium and Allianz Stadium.
However Fairfax Media understands Manly have made last-minute enquiries as late as Monday night into seeking an exemption to play their final at Brookvale Oval.
Out of all the teams currently in the top eight, only Manly and Penrith would have to play at a neutral venue, while the other six teams would be advantaged by playing at their usual home grounds.
However it is unlikely the NRL will flex the rules to accommodate the Sea Eagles or Panthers, and are expected to stick by their decision to play all Sydney finals at Allianz Stadium and ANZ Stadium.
Manly, South Sydney and the Roosters will fight it out for the top two spots this weekend, while there is still a chance Penrith and Canterbury could finish in fifth and sixth positions respectively.
The AFL have indicated that if the Swans were to host a final in the second week of their series, their preference would be to play it on a Saturday night, like they did in the corresponding game last year after the Swans lost their opening finals game to Hawthorn and then hosted a semi final against Carlton at ANZ Stadium.
With four Sydney teams earning home finals last year, the NRL played the Rabbitohs-Storm match at ANZ Stadium on Friday night and the Bulldogs-Knights clash at the same ground on Sunday afternoon.
They scheduled a double header between Cronulla and North Queensland as well as the Roosters and Manly at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, but only attracted a crowd of 32,747.
In the lead up to the double header Sydney Roosters fans also slammed the NRL for what they believed took away the home ground advantage they earned as minor premiers.
While the double header wasn't a raging success last year, it did prevent the embarrassing look of an empty stadium for a finals match, which happened in 2011 and 2012 when Manly hosted home finals at Allianz Stadium for crowds of 16,678 and 13,972.
