Penrith coach Ivan Cleary already fears the injury toll from February's Auckland Nines, with his club on a potential collision course with the NRL over the strength of the side it will field.

With the two-day tournament at Eden Park in Auckland only six weeks away, Cleary says he is worried about the welfare of his players in the nine-a-side version of the game.

Fearing the worst: Ivan Cleary may send a below strength team to the Auckland Nines to avoid the chance of injury. Credit:Getty Images

Penrith have already run a line through a score of players, including Matt Moylan, Peter Wallace, Jamie Soward, James Segeyaro, Elijah Taylor, Bryce Cartwright and Tyrone Peachey because they have either had off-season surgery or are yet to return to training after the Four Nations tournament that ended in late November.

Of greater concern is the potential for serious injury from a competition being played four weeks into the new year because of next year's cricket World Cup.