LEADING NRL coaches have claimed this season's unprecedented injury toll is forcing them to regularly field "needled-up" and inferior players because of salary cap pressure.

The NRL will provide some relief for elite players when it proposes - among other measures - an extra bye be added to the draw from next season at a crucial meeting of club chief executives in Sydney today.

But that is unlikely to pacify injury-crippled clubs struggling to squeeze players under the $4.1 million salary cap for their top 25 players and the $350,000 second-tier cap.

"I can honestly say we are sending multiple players out there who are needled up or haven't been able to train during the week," Knights coach Brian Smith told the Herald. "It's not fair on the individual.

"I understand what the cap is supposed to do. [But] it's got to a point where we can't play anyone else because we've exhausted our second-tier cap. That puts more pressure on us to play players who are not fully fit. It's an ugly situation."

There could be further pressure on coaches from club bosses if a proposal from Wests Tigers' Steve Noyce, Melbourne's Brian Waldron and St George Illawarra's Peter Doust is agreed.

They want salary cap auditor Ian Schubert to provide clubs with a mid-year review of their cap status, possibly forcing coaches to field lesser players.

Sharks coach Ricky Stuart said the cap was forcing him to field inferior players. Cronulla are still uncertain about whether they will risk second-rower Lance Thompson (knee), winger Luke Covell (ankle) and replacement forward Jacob Selmes (kneecap) against Manly tomorrow night.

"In my short coaching career, I've never had so many players train for the one game with only one session under their belt because they haven't been able to train for three or four days because of injury," Stuart said. "The salary cap doesn't allow you to have any limited depth in positions and it forces you to play players who aren't up to first-grade standard yet."

Gallop reminded clubs they could apply for exemptions if they were struck with injuries - which Newcastle did successfully with young second-rower Zeb Taia.

The NRL boss accused clubs of asking for relief despite having fit players in their squad, and added the second-tier salary cap was tightly policed to prevent clubs with large junior bases from "stockpiling" talent.

"There is flexibility in the second-tier cap, and clubs can make applications for exemptions if they are hit hard enough by injuries," Gallop said. "But we unashamedly enforce the second-tier cap to stop clubs from hoarding junior talent.

"The thing we also frown upon is clubs asking for relief for players when they still have players who can cover those positions. The coaches need to talk to their CEOs about the reason why the second-tier cap is important."

Asked what the proposed changes to the season draw would be, Gallop said: "I can't elaborate on that before discussing it with the clubs tomorrow. But it will help to relieve the pressure on our elite players."

The Herald understands clubs will be given another bye because the competition will start a week earlier than usual. And Monday night football before all representative matches is expected to be scrapped as the NRL reduces the burden on the elite players.

Other items to be discussed are a change to the player registration date to limit the stars switching clubs mid-season, and the introduction of incentives to stop players heading to England.

Gallop confirmed he would propose bringing forward the contract registration date by three weeks. Players to have switched clubs mid-season this year include Jamie Soward, Richie Williams and Clint Newton.

At present, NRL players can register with other clubs until June 30, but Gallop will suggest bringing forward the cut-off to round 13, in line with the current "last right of refusal" for clubs whose players have been offered deals elsewhere.

"On many occasions it's been a good result for everyone - the player gets the opportunity to play first grade, and the previous club are able to plan for the future," Gallop said. "But moving the date will line it up with the other player movement rules."

It is understood the NRL will suggest offering incentives to slow the number of players heading to Super League, even though Gallop maintained it was "wrong to suggest the cap is holding clubs back from paying players money that would stop them from going to the UK".