New home? Shaun Kenny-Dowall scores a try against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium. Credit:Getty Images Negotiations are preliminary - and neither party wanted to speak publicly when contacted - but they concern the possibility of the Roosters shifting their home matches against the Bulldogs, Parramatta and South Sydney. The possibility of a six-game reciprocal membership package has also been mooted. The Roosters are also keeping a watchful eye on the ever-changing stadium landscape currently being plotted for Sydney. As Fairfax Media revealed on Saturday, the State Government is considering a push from NRL boss Dave Smith to demolish Allianz Stadium and replace it with a new 60,000-seat stadium at Moore Park.

One of the proposals would see the administration and training bases of current tenants such as the Roosters and Waratahs - as well as the NRL's headquarters - knocked down to accommodate the new stadium. While that is a consideration, the main interest behind any move is the ability to expand membership and boost average crowd figures - in much the same way the Rabbitohs increased their numbers and revenue streams by moving to ANZ. Politis is keen to cash in on big crowds for matches against western Sydney powerhouses the Bulldogs and Eels by enticing lifelong Roosters fans who now live in Sydney's sprawling and growing western suburbs. Of course, the mere notion of the club playing home games against arch-rivals Souths in the western suburbs would bring a tear to an old Chook supporter's eye. The Rabbitohs, though, have played out of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct since 2006. Club officials often point out that 55 per cent of their support base now resides in the west of Sydney.

Problematic to the Roosters moving any matches is a contract with the SCG Trust - which operates Allianz Stadium - that has been described as "watertight". Under the present deal, the Roosters must play a minimum of 10 matches per season at Allianz until the end of 2019. News of the talks are sure to anger some Roosters fans, who have often criticised Souths for moving away from their traditional heartland to ANZ Stadium - despite the financial benefits. The Roosters have played out of Allianz since it was opened in 1988, but its average crowd figures have been notoriously low at times. Despite the success of the team, it only attracted average home crowds of just over 14,000 last year. They have 15,783 members, while Souths boast more than 35,000.

Central to the talks is the uncertainty over the future landscape of stadiums across Sydney. A minimum of $600 million has been allocated for new stadia, but Smith wants more. Smith has made it clear he wants to rugby league to abandon ANZ Stadium, although Baird is understood to want the heart and soul of the Sydney Olympics to remain - especially for headline matches and events. A landmark heads of agreement has been struck between the SCG Trust and ANZ Stadium to form a joint venture, but figures close to negotiations have rejected the idea of a "Super Trust".