Greater Western Sydney have left the door ajar for a high-stakes gamble to challenge Steve Johnson's suspension and have him available for the club's preliminary final next weekend.
However, ruckman Shane Mumford is free to play after being cleared for his tackle on Kurt Tippett.
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The Giants are yet to decide whether to accept the one-match ban offered to Johnson for his hit on Josh Kennedy in Saturday's fiery all-Sydney qualifying final but risk having the veteran ruled out for the grand final should they mount an appeal and fail.
GWS may choose to argue the impact should have been graded as low rather than medium, which would result in a fine instead.
That Kennedy missed valuable time undergoing a concussion test, which requires a player to sit out for the mandatory 15 minutes, will make it hard for the Giants to head down this path.
The other option would be to contend Johnson did not have an alternative course of action other than to bump Kennedy.
"We have until tomorrow morning to decide whether we'll contest the charge laid against Steve by the MRP today," the Giants' football manager Wayne Campbell said on Monday night. "We'll now weigh up the various elements and form a final position accordingly."
The Giants must make a call by 11am on Tuesday, though it would be a surprise if they were to risk losing Johnson for the rest of the year.
![Flashpoint: Steve Johnson and Lance Franklin clash at the quarter time break during the 2016 AFL First Qualifying Final ...](/web/20161226233236im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/d/w/6/v/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gredsc.png/1473668515893.jpg)
Johnson is understood to have told friends at the NEAFL grand final on Sunday "I'll be having a holiday for the next few weeks".
Swans players are believed to be privately fuming with Johnson's actions against their star on-baller, which has ignited the rivalry between the two clubs.
![Victorious: Tom Scully, Shane Mumford and Jeremy Cameron sing the song with gusto.](/web/20161226233236im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/d/h/y/t/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gredsc.png/1473668515893.jpg)
There is plenty at stake for Johnson and the Giants, who are in the box seat to make a historic debut grand final appearance after the impressive win over the Swans.
While the Giants were not hurt by their lack of finals experience on the weekend, that was in a game where they had a second chance. There is no such luxury in a fortnight's time.
We'll now weigh up the various elements and form a final position accordingly.
GWS football manager Wayne Campbell
Johnson is one of only three players from the side last weekend who has played in a premiership, winning three at Geelong.
Recruited at the end of last year after a decorated career at the Cats, Johnson has been a key player in the Giants' rise from also-ran to leading premiership fancy.
![Will Hoskin-Elliott has become the latest Giant to be placed out of reach of Victorian clubs.](/web/20161226233236im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/e/g/h/t/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gredsc.png/1473668515893.jpg)
He has kicked 43 goals, second at the club behind Jeremy Cameron, while his experience has been pivotal to the development of their young forward line.
There are several players in contention to replace Johnson should he miss the final against Hawthorn or the Western Bulldogs.
Will Hoskin-Elliott and Rhys Palmer, both small forwards by trade, head the queue as both were named as emergencies against Sydney.
Hoskin-Elliott has played two games this year but none since round three. Palmer, an important player last year, has featured 11 times for 13 goals but last played in round 16. The former Rising Star winner strengthened his case for a recall with 32 possessions and a goal in the Giants' NEAFL premiership success on Sunday.
Defender Adam Kennedy was also among the best in the lower grade final but has played mainly in defence.
Mumford was deemed to have no case to answer as the panel said Tippett landed on his right shoulder and right side and his head did not make contact with the turf. Tippett had earlier suffered a hairline fracture to his jaw after being accidentally kneed by Callan Ward in a ruck contest.
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