Bronson Xerri is set to miss Canterbury's crucial clash with North Queensland after being charged over the hip-drop tackle that injured Manly flyer Jason Saab.
Xerri was on Saturday morning handed a grade-two dangerous contact charge over the tackle that left Saab with a syndesmosis injury.
The charge will result in a one-match ban with an early guilty plea, or a second game if the Bulldogs elected to fight it and lose.
It appears incredibly unlikely Canterbury would take the case to the judiciary, given a two-game suspension would carry over into the finals.
Xerri's suspension will coincide with Stephen Crichton's return from his ban, likely meaning Jeral Skelton will remain in the Bulldogs' backline for another week.
Canterbury would have liked Xerri's speed and strike against the Cowboys, with the match potentially deciding who will host a home final.
Locked in fifth and sixth, the loser of the Bulldogs-Cowboys match will be forced to face Manly at Brookvale in week one if the Sea Eagles beat Cronulla next week.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo left Friday night's 34-22 loss to Manly hopeful his team had taken a crucial lesson ahead of the finals.
"We got a few reminders about what wins footy games. They ran hard, tackled hard. Daly Cherry-Evans controlled the game better than we did," Ciraldo said.
"I'm glad we learned those lessons tonight.
"What we want to focus on is getting our systems and processes better than they were (against Manly).
"That's the first time this year I have walked off really disappointed in our defence. We've been really consistent. Our effort and attitude has been really high."
Xerri's charge comes after he was not sin-binned on field over the contact.
Manly prop Nathan Brown, Penrith forward Lindsay Smith and South Sydney pair Tallis Duncan and Cody Walker also face fines out of Friday night's matches.
Sea Eagles five-eighth Luke Brooks was not charged over a dangerous throw on Jacob Preston, meaning he is still on track to play his first final since debuting in 2013.
