RUGBY league could crash tackle the World Cup out of Channel 9’s shop front window if Australia fails to qualify for cricket’s biggest event.

The next two weeks shape as a serious test of whether four weeks of tedious group games has cricket fans primed or deflated now the main course is finally about to be served, with quarter-finals starting on Wednesday.

Channel 9’s ratings for Australian matches have for the most part been particularly strong, but there’s no doubt the marathon length of the tournament has stretched everyone’s patience.

media_camera A young Bunny in the Burrow during the blockbuster South Sydney and Roosters clash on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Hunter

The timing of the tournament finale on Sunday, March 29, makes for a tricky dilemma for Nine, who need to weigh up the demand for live NRL coverage in its NSW and Queensland markets.

No decision has been made by programming executives this far out from the event, but if Australia do march their way through to the sold-out decider at the MCG, it’s expected Michael Clarke’s side would remain on the primary channel as they push for a historic win on home soil.

Cricket Australia certainly expect that to be the case.

However, if Australia were to bow out beforehand, Nine viewers in the rugby league states could be watching the Sydney Roosters versus Canberra Raiders from Allianz Stadium, rather than one of the biggest sporting events on earth.

media_camera Australia’s match against Sri Lanka rated extremely well.

The bottom line is, ratings are key.

In any case Fox Sports has shown every match of the tournament live and will feature all of the finals. While the sport that is bumped from Nine to feature on HD channel Gem, will still go to 98 per cent of homes across the country.

The only drawback is flicking over to the digital realm just isn’t on the forefront of people’s minds.

Australia’s matches this tournament have rated the house down, with a peak audience of 2.115 million for the opener against England and 2.074 million for the epic clash against Sri Lanka at the SCG — which spent some time on Gem in the afternoon for the NRL before reverting back to the main channel.

The one glaring exception was Saturday’s match against Scotland in Hobart, which struggled to rate.

Nine know they can’t please everyone with these decisions.

The possibility of a league game involving the small-market Raiders bumping a cricket World Cup final watched by nearly a billion people worldwide off the main channel is a fascinating example of how intense the local sporting market is.

media_camera 2.115 people tuned in to watch Aaron Finch destroy England in the first match. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

However, a condensed World Cup format could have had the finals almost wrapped up before a ball was kicked in anger.

Now organisers find themselves in a fierce battle for the hearts and minds of a spoiled sporting public.

Already this Friday night, cricket is feeling the heat.

NRL blockbusters Manly v Canterbury and Brisbane v North Queensland will feature on Nine’s primary channel, with Australia’s Cup quarterfinal from Adelaide going to Gem in NSW and Queensland.

Obviously in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia, cricket will run live on Nine no matter what all the way to the final — with the AFL season delayed until the end of the World Cup, so they can regain use of several stadiums around the country.

The rest of the quarter and semi-finals won’t clash with the NRL as they’re midweek fixtures, with the final the only sticking point.

ROAD TO WORLD CUP FINAL

QUARTER-FINALS:

Wed 18 March – QF3 - Sri Lanka (A3) v South Africa (B2), Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)

Thu 19 March – QF4 - Bangladesh (A4) v India (B1), Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

Fri 20 March – QF2 - Australia (A2) v Pakistan (B3), Adelaide Oval

Sat 21 March – QF1 - New Zealand (A1) v West Indies (B4), Wellington Regional Stadium

SEMI-FINALS:

Tue 24 March – SF1 - Winner QF1 (NZ v WI) v Winner QF3 (SL v SA), Eden Park, Auckland

Thu 26 March – SF2 - Winner QF2 (Aus v Pak) v Winner QF4 (BD v Ind), SCG, Sydney

FINAL:

Sun 29 March – Melbourne Cricket Ground

Fox Sports will have live coverage of every Cricket World Cup