Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns has been cleared of a serious neck injury and has an "80 per cent" chance of playing in his side's NRL clash with St George Illawarra on Saturday night.

Johns underwent an MRI scan on Wednesday and was on Thursday cleared of any serious neck damage by Professor John Yeo, a spinal rehab specialist at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney.

"Yes, I think so," said Yeo when asked if Johns would play this weekend.

"He's got, I think, a good prognosis.

"We're pleased with his progress and we look forward to seeing him back on the field."

The scans revealed the latest injury was unrelated to the serious neck injury he sustained in 2003, with Knights surgical consultant Neil Halpin declaring him an almost certain starter against the Dragons at WIN Stadium.

"He's been cleared by Professor John Yeo the world authority on injuries in sports ... so it's good news," Halpin said.

"There is certainly no sign of recurrence of the knock he had about two and a half years ago.

"(Johns) was very happy with all of that.

"As soon as he is pain free, and he is a lot better today, he'll be cleared to play.

"If he is not (fit for the Dragons match), by some chance, he'll definitely be fit for the week after."

In a statement distributed by manager John Fordham, Johns said: "Professor Yeo satisfied me the problem is muscle related only and that subject to getting through a training session tomorrow I'll be playing against the Dragons on Saturday night."

Asked what are Johns' chances of playing this weekend, Halpin said: "Eighty per cent - they're pretty good odds aren't they?"

However, punters hoping to bet on the Dragons-Knights match will be unable to do so after bookmakers suspended betting until a final decision on the champion halfback's fitness is made.

The move follows a stunning $250,000 plunge on the New Zealand Warriors last week after news broke that Johns was unlikely to play.

TAB Sportsbet spokesman Glenn Munsie said that no individual had the same impact on the outcome of a team sport as Johns, with only Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant coming close.

"His record stands up to say that when he doesn't play, they are a different side," Munsie said.

"(Suspending betting) is done to protect the little bloke who still believes Joey will be playing, as 99.9 per cent of our customers are the man in the street and they don't have access to that information.

"We are not doing that as a sour grapes, it was actually our best result last week."

Meanwhile, the players association has tabled its "final position" on salary cap negotiations with the NRL after requesting an increase to $4 million for next year.

The Rugby League Professionals Association met with the NRL in Sydney today to continue negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement, although NRL CEO David Gallop indicated "there is still a gap between us".

"That is pretty much our final position on the cap," said RLPA president Simon Woolford.

"I would say after today it was a positive meeting.

"We've conceded some ground and we are hoping the NRL can do the same so we can all be on happy terms."

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