The past and present Cronulla players who received show-cause notices from ASADA on Wednesday are set to confirm whether they will take the deal offered to them by the anti-doping authority.

Seventeen members of the Sharks 2011 team have been offered sweetheart deals that would result in just a month’s suspension and would bring an end the saga that has been ongoing since February last year.

The players have until Friday (9.30am AEST) to accept the deal or it is off the table.

Current Sharks players Paul Gallen, Nathan Gardner, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou and the soon-to-retire John Morris will miss the rest of the season should they take the ban and run the risk of a potential two-year suspension if they decide they want to clear their names.

North Queensland’s Matthew Wright, Luke Douglas of Gold Coast and Newcastle’s Jeremy Smith are among the other players facing a similar dilemma following a probe into the use of CJC-1295 and GHRP-6 in a five-week period.

It’s been reported that a majority of the 17 players are understood to be leaning towards accepting ASADA’s deal subject to receiving eleventh-hour assurances prior to the deadline.

News Corp reports that players attended a series of marathon meetings with their lawyers on Thursday and it was understood Gold Coast pair Luke Douglas and Albert Kelly were among those leaning toward compliance with ASADA.

AFL club Essendon are awaiting the findings in their Federal Court case questioning the legitimacy of the joint investigation by the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority into the club.

There is speculation the players may want to wait for the outcome of the Bombers’ hearing and then take their chances, with Gallen claiming earlier this week he didn’t want to be labelled a drug cheat.

Rugby League Players’ Association Boss David Garnsey has urged players to put their rights first as they consider the bans – an approach also suggested by former ASADA chief Richard Ings.

“Players should fight these accusations if they do not have foundation,” Ings said.

“If I was a player, I would be asking ASADA to lay out the evidence before me.

“Exactly what is the basis for the accusations? Look at that evidence, if that evidence has merit, then cutting a deal is the smart move.

“If that evidence has no merit, then it should be challenged.”