The NRL will have to insert another pre-season before the resumption of the 2020 premiership in a bid to allow players to be ready to return to the field.

NRL officials have not listed a return-to-play date for the league, as they look to try and find ways to restart the competition.

But whatever options they come up with, it’s unlikely the competition will be able to start without at least some warning.

Players have been told to return to training from Tuesday, and will remain away from their clubs indefinitely.

Players usually have at least a three-month pre-season before play, and while preparations won’t need to be that long at least some notice will be given.

“If the players go into a break right now, we’re going to have to have a mini pre-season,” NRL boss Todd Greenberg told Nine’s 100% Footy.

“We’re going to have to work on that with the RLPA and all our clubs.”

Greenberg also said it was impossible to know when the game would be able to resume, with the sport only set to come back on the advice of a pandemic expert.

Players had remained in training until just before the decision to suspend the competition, but clubs were also unsure on Monday night how they could manage their players’ fitness.

“I have spoken to our high performance manager, but it’s very hard to plan for anything unforeseen going forward,” Canberra coach Ricky Stuart told Fox League’s NRL360.

“It’s very hard to plan for anything not knowing the length of the delay going forward, and how many weeks or months.

“It’s something now that will go into discussion with my staff. And hopefully having more understanding tomorrow on how much time they look like having.”