It's still unclear what next season's salary cap will be, with it expected to be less than the $9.9 million initially agreed to.

The coronavirus pandemic means it's likely to be cut and the club's squad sizes could also be cut from 30 to 28 - or even 26.

It means the NRL clubs are still unable to finalise their lists for next season, which has a flow-on effect for off-contract players.

The Raiders have offered one of those players, back-up hooker Tom Starling, a one-year extension to keep him in lime green next year, with recruitment guru Peter Mulholland hopeful it would be wrapped up this week.

It would be a boost for Canberra heading into their trip to the Gold Coast to play the Titans on Saturday, as they look to continue to put pressure on the top four.

They've won their past three games against the Gold Coast.

Starling joined the Green Machine last year and has played eight NRL games since his one game for Newcastle.

He's been a revelation coming off the bench in the absence of injured co-captain Josh Hodgson (knee).

"We've put an offer in to keep Tom Starling," Mulholland said.

"I'm negotiating with his manager at the moment and I should have an answer some time this week."

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But with things still up in the air in regards to the salary cap, it makes it more difficult to lock in everyone.

The Raiders also have winger Jordan Rapana and prop Sia Soliola (face) off contract, although initial talks have been held.

Nick Cotric's move to the Canterbury Bulldogs at the end of the season makes Rapana a valuable retention, while Soliola's still recovering from a nasty facial fracture.

While the Raiders have locked in a large portion of their squad, Mulholland said the uncertainty surrounding the salary cap affected how far they could go.

He said ideally, from a recruiting perspective, they would know in the next fortnight.

"We've got to wait and see what the cap goes to next year and that's really important," Mulholland said.

"There's a lot of negotiations between the players' association and the NRL. We don't know what the numbers are yet.

"There's some talk about 28, some talk about 26 - 28 seems to be the number at the moment, but we just don't know.

"Until it's finalised we're living in limbo and so are the players.

"It's not an easy negotiation for anybody to be cutting like that. You've got to look at the ramifications of it.

"If we're reduced and we're still in the bubble where do we get our development from?

"You'd like to think we could probably get it done by the end of August. From a recruitment angle that would be important."

NRL ROUND 15

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Gold Coast Titans at the Gold Coast, 3pm.