The NRL scrapped biosecurity bubbles this year but rising COVID-19 case numbers have begun to hit clubs as the finals approach.

Only six competition points separate sides placed fifth and eleventh and a mass COVID-19 outbreak could derail a side’s bid to play September football.

This month alone, Jake Trbojevic, Cameron Munster, Murray Taulagi, Reece Walsh, Toby Rudolf and Nicho Hynes have been among key players to come down with the virus.

“It’s definitely a bit alarming that there are a few more cases,” Demetriou said.

“It’s something that we’re definitely looking at, going into our own bubble if we need to, even if the game doesn’t.”

The Rabbitohs have a tough run home, playing five top eight sides in their last seven games, so could enter a bubble before the regular season in a bid to guarantee themselves a place in the finals.

But Demetriou was mindful of demanding too much of his players.

“You’ve come this far, 40 weeks by the time you reach finals including pre-season,” he said.

“With COVID-19 or any other illness, you need to start thinking about how to have the best preparation for the finals.

“It’s hard though because if you do it too early, it’s a long time for the players to sacrifice. They’ve done a lot over the last couple of years.”

Demetriou said the spectacle of the finals series would suffer if the league chose not to re-implement league-wide bubbles.

“We’ve got to protect the integrity of the game,” he said.

“If it’s still going the way it is, then obviously it’s something that the game and us as clubs are going to have to look at.”