National Rugby League powerhouse Melbourne Storm will find out on Tuesday if Albury is a live option to establish a temporary training base to prepare for the re-booted season on May 28.
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The option of the club being based in the city and using one of its grounds to train will firstly be discussed by Albury Council management before any formal talks are held with Storm officials.
The club will be forced to relocate interstate where state government COVID-19 guidelines allow NRL teams to train under strict biosecurity protocols with a move to Albury compared to Sydney expected to be more acceptable to players in terms of contact with families.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack said it was far from a done deal.
"We would have to weigh up the risks to our community and speak to the state government," he said.
"Nothing will happen without appropriate due diligence on risks to our community.
Former NRL player and Albury-based solicitor Mike Eden is also involved in discussions with Storm and talked through options with the club's football general manager Frank Ponissi on Saturday.
Mr Eden was a key player in brokering a deal for the Albury NRL match for premiership points in 2015.
"Albury is the biggest town on the river and the only town with rugby league posts," he said.
"From what I understand the No.2 oval at Lavington is just about done and dusted and dressing rooms are just about usable."
Mr Eden said the Albury Thunder's home ground, Greenfied Park, was also known to Storm officials because under-20 trials have been held there previously.
"Everything would be done in a closed environment away from the public," he said.
"It will be very strict, but NSW Health and council need to approve it all.
"I can't see there being any issues with it at the council end if the state government was happy, but I don't know enough about it."
Another factor in Albury's favour is the airport which could provide ease of access to Sydney when the season re-starts.
There is presently no local requirement for Lavington or Greenfield Park with the Ovens and Murray and Group 9 competitions presently on hold indefinitely due to COVID-19.
Council owns both venues.
Mr Ponissi said he won't be making comment on specific venues and stressed the club was looking at numerous venues.
"Should we not be able to train at AAMI Park when/if the NRL competition is re-started, we will be looking at numerous options at various NSW locations," he said.
Melbourne Storm will begin re-assembling its squad in Melbourne in coming days with the NRL closing down after two rounds on March 23 with the AFL season shutting down a day earlier.
Storm won its first two matches of the season before the lockdown.
