For the first time since the NRL adopted a two-preliminary-finals system in 1995, this year's games will be played on a Friday and Sunday rather than on consecutive days.
It means the winner of the first preliminary final between Melbourne and either Canberra or Cronulla will enjoy a nine-day turnaround into the decider.
That is two days longer than the team that claims victory in the clash between Brisbane and either Penrith or Canterbury to be held on Sunday, September 28.
Broncos great Corey Parker hit out at the decision on Tuesday on SEN radio, labelling it "lop-sided, poorly done and selfish from the NRL".
But head office insists it is comfortable with the situation, with Abdo stressing the league had spoken to clubs before making the call on Monday.
The NRL chief executive felt that as long as both teams had at least a seven-day turnaround into the finals, neither could be said to be at a disadvantage for the grand final.
"Once you get to that level of rest and recovery, we were really cognisant of the fact that seven days is key," Abdo said.
"If you look at the regular season, obviously we have byes, so you have some teams playing teams that have effectively had two weeks' recovery.
"We're talking about the best professional athletes on the planet, and the clubs do an unbelievable job in terms of high-performance management.
"We're really confident that it's not an issue.
"Obviously we'll see, it's the first time we're doing it. We consulted with the clubs through the course of making this decision. We're really comfortable with what we have in place."
There are several complicating factors around the NRL's week-three schedule.
Playing the Storm's preliminary final on the Saturday was off the table given logistical challenges posed by the AFL grand final being played in Melbourne that day.
The league also would have been forcing either the Bulldogs or Panthers to travel to Brisbane on a six-day turnaround if it had scheduled the second preliminary final for the Saturday.
Last Sunday afternoon's qualifying final between the Raiders and Broncos had a total reach of more than two million free-to-air viewers, the most of any men's premiership game this season.
But AAP has been told the decision to play a Sunday preliminary final had been in the works since before the ratings boom.
"We are very cognisant of the fact that daytime football, particularly on Sunday afternoons, is incredibly popular during the regular season," Abdo said.
NRL PRELIMINARY FINALS
Friday, September 26: Melbourne v Canberra/Cronulla, AAMI Park, 7.50pm
Sunday, September 28: Brisbane v Canterbury/Penrith, Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm
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