'No question': NRL concedes moving Bulldogs-Manly clash will impact player recovery times

A decision to switch Canterbury's finals clash with Manly to Sunday afternoon will have an impact on player recovery times as the league looks to avoid a scheduling clash with the AFL.

Amid the Bulldogs' return to finals football for the first time in eight years, and an expected 50,000 fans at Accor Stadium, the NRL moved the match to Sunday from its original Saturday night slot because it would have clashed with the GWS Giants' elimination final against the Brisbane Lions at Engie Stadium, which is also at Sydney Olympic Park.

The winner of the Bulldogs-Manly clash will play the following Saturday against the loser of the Panthers-Roosters match which kicks off the finals series on Friday night. The loser of that clash will have an extra two days of recovery.

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"There is an impact in that regard," NRL head of football Graham Annesley said in response to questions about player recovery.

"There's no question.

"The primary reason (for moving the game) was, 'Do we really want to cause discomfort and distress for everyone going?'.

"I don't think it's in anyone's best interests, even to the fans that want to go to our game, to compete with another event next door. Parking will be pre-sold, trains will be full and people will say, 'It's too hard'."

The NRL scheduled the Storm-Sharks qualifying final to be played on Saturday in Melbourne when there are no AFL finals being played.

However, there also could that be a clash in two weeks when the AFL plays its preliminary finals in Sydney for the Swans and in Melbourne for Geelong.

The NRL will also need to be mindful of the AFL grand final, which will be played on the afternoon of Saturday September 28, potentially clashing with a Storm preliminary final.