Super League chairman Chris Caisley has hit out at clubs pushing policies aimed at trying to level out playing standards.

The Bulls boss is angered at talk of a further reduction in the salary cap and has warned clubs to ditch a proposal to reduce the number of overseas players - or face the legal consequences.

Club representatives will gather in Halifax tomorrow to vote on a plan to strictly enforce import restrictions.

Currently, clubs are able to exceed the quota limit of five by claiming exemptions for those who have played in this country for five consecutive seasons, together with players with dual nationality passports.

Caisley, senior partner in a Leeds firm of solicitors, will urge clubs to vote out the proposal because it breaks the law.

"It's a clear restraint of trade," he said. "You are talking about people who have built a life here and, in some cases, played their first professional football here.

"To say, all of a sudden, to people who have committed themselves to the game here that they must become a quota player is quite simply unfair and illegal.

"Maybe people want to reduce the quota which would be a different matter. But at the end of the day they are heaping problems on themselves. The proposal is nonsense."

If clubs ignore the recommendation of their chairman and vote for the plan, the new restrictions would apply from the start of Super League VIII in 2003, allowing time for clubs to meet current contractual obligations.

Bulls captain Robbie Paul, older brother Henry and Tongan winger Tevita Vaikona, who are all off the quota because of the residency exemption, would be among the players affected.

Meanwhile Caisley says talk of the salary cap being reduced to £1.3m is punishing successful clubs.

"Perhaps it's time we started talking about a minimum level for salaries which clubs cannot drop below. Then clubs would not spend their time signing inferior players. It's time some clubS looked at themselves instead of trying to drag others down to their level."

Caisley also revealed that discussions have begun with Australia to repeat the much-maligned 1997 World Club Championship, although in a reduced form.

St Helens' recent victory over Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge has helped spark a change in attitudes, especially Down Under.