PORT Adelaide will know by the end of the week whether the AFL will allow it to start the 2016 season on what the club considers a level playing field.

The Power have requested permission to recruit top-up players to replace rookies, who will be upgraded to cover suspended pair Patrick Ryder and Angus Monfries.

St Kilda (Jake Carlisle) and the Western Bulldogs (Stewart Crameri) have also requested the same allowance from the League, but Melbourne (Jake Melksham) is yet to signal its intentions.

Speaking in Adelaide on Tuesday at the launch of the 2016 NAB Challenge, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said all clubs would know the outcome of their requests before the end of the week.

"Andrew Dillon's (AFL general counsel) having a look at that at the moment," McLachlan said.

"[The clubs' submissions are] due 5pm today … he'll consider those, obviously then he'll make his own decision about what's right.

"I imagine it'll be done by the end of this week."

Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak said the only "fair" outcome would be to ensure the Power started the year with as many players on their list as other clubs.

If the AFL decides against allowing Port to recruit top-up rookies, the club would start the year with one player less than Essendon.

"It's only fair if we're at an even playing field in terms of numbers on our list," Boak said.

"If we go in with 42 and they go in with 43 it doesn't seem too fair from my point of view.

"Hopefully it does get sorted out."