Rogers could have accepted a two-game suspension with an early guilty plea after being red-carded and reported for allegedly kneeing Leeton-Whitton’s Sam Cooper in last Saturday’s qualifying final.

But the Goannas will risk a season-ending three-game ban in a bid to free Rogers at the tribunal at Ganmain on Thursday night.

Privately, MCUE feels as though the contact was unintentional and in the motion of Rogers trying to free himself from the Leeton-Whitton player. They will also argue the contact was made with the shoulder, not the head.

The Goannas hope to have Rogers available for Sunday’s sudden-death first semi-final against Collingullie-Glenfield Park at Exies Oval in Griffith.

Stace Creasy, who injured his hamstring last weekend, is highly unlikely to play.