The Auckland Nines could be missing from the calendar next year as the event's promoters and the NRL wrestle with how to fit it into an off-season schedule that includes the World Cup.

The possibility of a venue change in 2018 was raised after poor crowds attended the tournament in February but Fairfax Media has learnt it's increasingly likely that it won't go ahead at all.

The primary reason is concern over the workload of players, particularly those who compete in the World Cup, to be run in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from October 27 to December 2.

The All Stars game has already been removed temporarily from the calendar, meaning that if the Nines does not go ahead the pre-season will feature only the World Club Series and trial games.