The anti-doping watchdog is preparing to make the most significant move of its protracted and highly criticised probe only days after former Federal Police assistant commissioner Ben McDevitt was announced as its new chief executive. The news about the pending development out of ASADA’s Canberra headquarters – letters are set to be sent, possibly even as early as this week – came as the Sharks prepared to take on Parramatta at Pirtek Stadium on Monday night.

Cronulla chief executive Steve Noyce said he had heard nothing on the matter from ASADA or the NRL and his priority was the welfare of players.

‘‘I think the most pressing thing, as I’ve said all the way through this, is to make sure that we look after the players,’’ he said. ‘‘They’ve been under enormous pressure. Tonight we will marvel at their athleticism and their toughness, but they’re human beings like all of us and they’ve got real wives and real parents and real kids. Like everyone we’re looking forward to when the process comes to a completion.

‘‘We continue to work through it and continue to support the players and we’ll continue to do that, but as I say I think it’s in everyone’s best interests that the matter be finalised sooner rather than later.’’

The show-cause notices do not automatically lead to bans. The circumstances of the saga at Cronulla, where players have claimed they did not know what they were being given in the period before sports scientist Stephen Dank was dismissed in late May 2011, will be a strong factor in their defence.