Russell Crowe's vision of an expanded World Club Challenge will move a step closer to reality when South Sydney, Brisbane and a third NRL team play the top three Super League clubs in England in February.
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The Rabbitohs and Broncos will join this season's premiers in a historic six-team tournament, or the NRL will invite a third club if Souths or Brisbane win the grand final.
The teams will fly to England after the NRL All Stars match at Suncorp Stadium and are scheduled to play against the top three Super League clubs on February 20, 21 and 22 in what are almost certain to be three sellout matches.
Full details of the expanded tournament are expected to be announced on Friday but it is understood the two third-ranked teams will meet on the Friday night, followed by the two second-ranked teams on Saturday, with the NRL and Super League premiers to play on Sunday.
The idea of the NRL clubs each playing a warm-up match against other Super League clubs, including Catalan in Perpignan, has been scrapped but the decision to expand the World Club Challenge to six teams may be the first move towards a Champions League-type tournament floated by Crowe four years ago.
Britain considers the development so significant that the Super League will be suspended for the weekend.
The Rabbitohs will play the Charity Shield match against St George Illawarra two weeks earlier to ensure it fits into an NRL pre-season packed with big events, including:
* Jan 31-Feb 2: NRL Nines in Auckland
* Feb 7: Charity Shield and trial matches
* Feb 14: NRL All Stars v Indigenous All Stars
* Feb 20-22: World Club Challenge
NRL clubs not involved in the World Club Challenge will play their second trial match that weekend before the start of the 2015 season two weeks later, on either March 5 or 6.
The expanded World Club Challenge matches are expected to be broadcast but the fact the cricket World Cup is on may mean it is shown on GEM, if Nine provides coverage.
It was revealed in July the Rabbitohs and Broncos were keen to be involved and it is understand there is now no shortage of other clubs wanting to play in the tournament if either Souths or Brisbane win the premiership.
St Helens, Castleford and Wigan are currently the top three teams on the Super League ladder but just two points separate the second-placed Tigers and sixth-placed Leeds, with Warrington and Huddersfield equal third with the Warriors. French club Catalan and Widnes are likely to be the other teams in the finals.
NRL league integration and game development manager Andrew Hill confirmed an announcement on the World Club Challenge format was close.
"We're in the final stages of discussing opportunities with Super League, and the Super League clubs, about the World Club Challenge next year," Hill said.
"That may include the expanded concept of more clubs participating in the competition."
With the NRL clubs guaranteed to have their costs covered, it is likely the next tournament will feature either the three highest finishing teams or the top team from NSW, Queensland and either the New Zealand Warriors or Melbourne Storm.
There is also the possibility of playing the World Club Challenge in neutral territory, such as Dubai.
Crowe suggested Las Vegas as a venue in an email in 2010, in which he outlined his concept of an eight-team tournament featuring the top four teams from the NRL and Super League.
"With effort it may well become a financial boon for the clubs involved, as Europe represents for English soccer clubs," Crowe said.
