Australian Rugby Union chairman Cameron Clyne remained tight-lipped on Monday after a board meeting when asked if reducing the number of Australian Super Rugby clubs was being considered.

The ARU are preparing to take a number of options to a SANZAAR meeting – on March 9 – and its final position will depend on which direction rugby's southern hemisphere body wants to go.

It is likely a decision won't be finalised until well after the March meeting, which has some Australian players on edge, according to RUPA chief executive Ross Xenos.

"Completely understandably, the players are concerned about the ambiguity over the future and that's one of the drivers of our public position in terms of why we believe five teams is so much more important," Xenos said.

"In an ideal world we wouldn't have the uncertainly that we have at the moment as we're about to kick-off the 2017 season for 2018. We just need to have faith in the process that SANZAAR has engaged and hope there is a resolution soon.

"At the same time, they're professionals. They'll go out and give their best efforts for their teams this weekend and have faith in RUPA representing their interests."

Xenos praised the ARU, saying it was better to keep cards close to its chest than come out and say which way they were leaning.

"They came up with a number of options which is an incredibly mature and responsible approach given that we don't know what the nature of the discussion is going to be around the SANZAAR table next month," Xenos said.

"We're confident that the ARU is well aware of the players' views in terms of the importance of having five Australian teams moving forward and we're confident they'll represent Australia's best interest at the SANZAAR meeting."

There is the possibility players will balk at signing new contracts with Australian franchises – more than likely at the Force, Rebels or Brumbies – given the uncertainty over the make-up of the competition next year.

Dane Haylett-Petty showed a great deal of faith in the Western Force by signing a new two-year deal but there might not the same enthusiasm from lesser known players at clubs in the firing line, particularly if they are being tempted by European franchises.

If a team were to be cut, there is also the issue of player contracts that needs to be discussed, in terms of whether those deals would be paid out should a franchise cease to exist.

"Depending on those outcomes there are different uncertainties regarding the legal position of players that are contracted," Xenos said. "We've got a unique situation where the ARU is already the employer of players in Perth and we just need to allow the ARU to follow the SANZAAR process and deal with the outcomes from there.

"Up until the SANZAAR executive committee meeting we'll continue to remain in dialogue but we're not expecting to learn a lot more publicly than what we already know.

"It's always difficult boxing at shadows and we'll wait until any decision is made before we make those decisions."