Mitchell Pearce is expected to make a call on his future just as the NRL makes a determination on whether leading suitor Manly have rorted the salary cap.

Pearce is believed to be leaning towards joining the Sea Eagles after the Roosters granted him a release, but will also consider pitches from Cronulla and Newcastle. The Sea Eagles hold appeal due to Pearce's respect for coach Trent Barrett, a bond that stretches back to their NSW halves combination from the 2010 State of Origin campaign.

In demand: Former Rooster Mitchell Pearce is expected to decide his playing future in the next fortnight.. Credit:AAP

Barrett has publicly and privately backed the halfback since and believes his addition to a spine that includes Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic and Apisai Koroisau will be the best in the game.

The biggest stumbling block to any Manly deal relates to their salary cap. The NRL integrity unit is completing the last interviews with Manly staffers this week in a bid to determine whether the club illegally overpaid players. NSW police formed Strike Force Nuralda to investigate match-fixing allegations and recently cleared the club of any wrongdoing. However, their probe unearthed potential salary cap breaches, which the NRL is in the process of following up.