After the board met on Thursday night, a proposal will be sent to the clubs with a number of scenarios to be discussed.

There is still overriding support for a top five format, although the finals stages of the plan will see a reduction in teams able to compete.

Group Nine chairman Andrew Hinchcliffe is looking for feedback from clubs.

"We want to hold the course of action for the standard process," Hinchcliffe said.

"We're proposing we not only wait until the lockdown finishes but where possible go back to the existing format.

"If COVID continues into a period of time then we need to reduce that format.

"We've suggested the last possible date when we can play the Group Nine grand final is the 17^th of October.

"We'll take that to clubs, hopefully that's accepted and then we will work backwards from there."

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The proposal is for a four-week finals series beginning on September 4.

That requires the lockdown to end as currently planned next Saturday.

It would give clubs a week to train before playing.

The grand final would be played on September 26.

If not does not come to fruition but clubs are able to resume training by September 4, all will be given two weeks preparation before the finals start on September 18 for an October 10 grand final date.

The same approach will be adopted for the following week, seeing the grand final pushed back to October 17.

However if the lockdown extends beyond September 11 stage four of their plan will be introduced.

It would see the finals reduced for every additional week of lockdown.

The first would see a reduction to a top four with a three-week finals series.

It is then reduced to a top four over two weeks before heading into a straight grand final between Tumut and Southcity as the final resort.

October 17 is the lone grand final date for all stage four options.

Hinchcliffe believes there is a desire to see the competition be completed.

With the last round declared COVID draws, Albury will also need to decide if they will fulfil their finals commitments.

They have qualified in both leaguetag, who finished third, and reserve grade, who finished fifth.

Reserve grade is of a particular concern due to issues around the border bubble.

Tumut finished in sixth, one point behind, and did take a 26-8 win when the two teams clashed last week.

While clubs will be given their chance for feedback on the finals structure, however the board did confirm the cancellation of the Eric Weissel Medal dinner.

They are now making plans to release a production on social media.

The board will work with Group 20 and likely cancel this year's Kelly Cup representative games that are scheduled for September 25.

Clubs will be part of a Zoom meeting on Monday night to discuss what lies ahead.