Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad admits his NRL club will need to pull a "rabbit out of the hat" to satisfy superstar Sonny Bill Williams' request for a contract upgrade this season.

But the Bulldogs CEO was still confident the budding New Zealand international would re-sign with Canterbury as early as this week.

Williams was widely tipped to put pen to paper in the coming days after Noad had a "positive" meeting with his management team of Gavin and Chris Orr.

The Orrs spelt out exactly what was needed to keep the rising star at Belmore and were waiting on the Bulldogs to match their terms and conditions this week.

But an upgrade request for this year has made negotiations "harder", according to Noad.

"That's what they have asked for. But short of pulling a rabbit out of the hat we don't have any money to upgrade - it will probably make the negotiations harder, more difficult," he said.

"But hopefully they are willing to move on that but we think the offer is a good one. We will just keep talking throughout the week."

Noad kept his fingers crossed for good news from the Williams camp this week.

"Gee I would like to think so. I have been talking to them for a fair while now. We will just keep talking to his management team and hopefully we can knock it over in the short term and that it doesn't go on for much longer," he said.

Noad was also hoping for a resolution to contract negotiations for their other off-contract stars including injured Test forward Willie Mason.

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