Perth looms as favourite to host this year's AFL grand final after the league opted to scrap the pre-finals bye.
The decision comes as the league attempts to keep the season moving amid the looming threat of further COVID-19 interruptions, with border restrictions making interstate travel and scheduling difficult.
The week off could be employed before the preliminary finals or the September 25 grand final as the league nears a decision on where the closing weeks of the season will be played.
Melbourne's lockdown - which was extended on Monday until at least September 2 - will almost certainly see the grand final shifted away from the MCG for the second straight season.
It could mean the final two weeks of the season are played in Perth's Optus Stadium, where visiting clubs must undergo quarantine.
"We will approach the finals as we have the last 18 months, and that is to remain flexible and agile while monitoring an evolving set of circumstances in front of the competition," AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said.
"Our game is not immune to the uncertainty and the challenges in the wider community.
"We have had to make decisions all year to mitigate risk to keep the season going and now to ensure we deliver fans an epic and memorable month of AFL finals."
Earlier this month, Auld described the late-season bye as "a bit of a safety net or break glass (in case of emergency) mechanism" in the face of further possible COVID-19 interruptions.
The pre-finals bye was initially implemented in 2016 with an eye towards preventing teams from resting players en masse in the build-up to the finals.
Western Australia premier Mark McGowan denied his state had clinched the grand final but said families of players would not be allowed to travel with the competing teams.
"That hasn't been achieved at this point in time but we're working with the AFL on very strict guidelines around all these issues, and I don't think the AFL has made that decision yet," he said.
McGowan also flagged the state's chief health officer would require all players to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before arrival.
The decision to move the bye this year could affect team selection for round 23 this week as finals-bound clubs manage the workloads of their players.
Sydney are locked in to qualify for the finals in fifth or sixth position regardless of their result against Gold Coast this week, but coach John Longmire said he will not be resting a large group of players.
The Swans sat out superstar Lance Franklin last week and left Jake Lloyd (knee) and Callum Mills (Achilles) on the sidelines, with the trio likely to return against the Suns.
"We got what we wanted out of last week with those players that needed to freshen up a bit," Longmire said on Monday.
"It's a fine line between making sure that you rest and approach the finals fresh versus battle-hardened and in form."
Top-four sides Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide are tipped to open round 23 on Friday night, with the AFL to confirm the week's fixture in the coming days.
