Lebanese NRL stars set to play after jail threat

International rugby league has seemingly averted a black eye with Lebanon players understood to have agreed to take the field for Saturday's Test against Fiji.

The Cedars players and Lebanon Rugby League Federation are still at loggerheads over issues pertaining to the board's management of the code but the footballers now seem unlikely to follow through on threats not to turn out for the match.

Tensions escalated after the LRLF threatened jail time for players that covered up the Cedar logo during Saturday's match - a form of protest against the board that had been raised earlier in the week.

In response, skipper Robbie Farah and his players vowed to boycott the match at Leichhardt Oval unless their demands were met.

Senior Cedars players including Farah met with Rugby League International Federation CEO Nigel Wood on Wednesday afternoon to help negotiate a peace deal.

It's now believed the players will now take the field, avoiding a disaster for the 13-man code.

"We believe the meeting was positive and productive and have subsequently asked for submissions in writing," Wood said.

"The RLIF can and will play a role in seeking a mutually acceptable outcome, while recognising that fundamentally any dispute such as this can only be a matter for Lebanon RL and its players to actually agree and resolve."

While the players' stand appears to have softened after the meeting, Farah had earlier said not playing was an option.

"Whilst I think it is only a threat and I'm not sure what jurisdiction they have to carry out those threats, and if that's the case, we have some players here who don't want to cover up the badge, we'll seriously talk about not taking the field this weekend," Farah said.

"Because we are united as a playing group in demanding some change.

"Sometimes you have a create a stir to get people to stand up and listen to you.

"We don't want to go to jail so we just won't play."

The players are disputing the LRLF's recent board elections amid complaints that the country has failed to capitalise on its 2017 World Cup success.

In response the LRLF threatened the players with arrest if they followed through with their plans and ever set foot in Lebanon, a distinct possibility for the handful of players who reside there.

Also at the heart of the issue is the Lebanon local competition after some Cedars players complained it had been suspended by the LRLF.

Under RLIF rules, every nation must run a local competition or else they can be given a show-cause notice and ultimately their membership suspended.

If that is the case, the Cedars could be stripped of their spot in the 2021 World Cup.

However the LRLF denies these claims, saying they have 17 teams participating in adult and junior 13-a-side competition.