Panthers ace Viliame Kikau will appear before the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night in an attempt to beat a dangerous throw charge.
Penrith announced on Sunday that their star second-rower would be entering a not guilty plea.
Kikau was charged with a grade one dangerous throw for a first-half tackle in Friday night’s 29-28 win over the Roosters.
Kikau was facing a one-week ban for the tackle on Jared Waerea-Hargreaves irrespective of whether he entered an early guilty plea or went to the judiciary and lost his case.
If he wins he will be free to play in the preliminary finals, but a loss a the judiciary would mean Penrith have the make the grand final for him to play again this year.
Meanwhile, Storm hooker Cameron Smith has been charged for a dangerous throw in his side’s win over Parramatta – but can avoid suspension with an early guilty plea.
The match review committee decided Smith’s 48th-minute tackle on Dylan Brown was worthy of a grade one charge – which attracts 100 demerit points.
Smith can reduce that amount to 75 points, and be able to play in the preliminary finals if he chooses to enter an early guilty plea.
That decision would leave with him with 75 carry-over points.
While Smith can avoid suspension, Parramatta forward Marata Niukore will need to secure a not guilty verdict at the judiciary to avoid a two-match ban.
A grade one crusher tackle charge coupled with a previous similar offence in the last two years pushes his suspension for an early guilty plea to two games.
If the Eels enter an early guilty plea, they would have to make the grand final for Niukore to be able to play again in 2020.
The two other charges to come out of Saturday night’s matches will result in fines for Sharks duo Sione Katoa and Siosifa Talakai.
Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is facing a fine after being charged with a careless high tackle on Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards.
The grade one charge and a prior similar offence to his name means Waerea-Hargreaves will cop an $850 fine if he pleads guilty
