Close to 50 NRL players are preparing to walk the judiciary tightrope, as a season-long list of minor indiscretions threaten to bite on the eve of the finals.
Of the nine teams still in finals contention headed into round 27, a total of 46 players have been named to take to the field this weekend with a blemish on their record.
And in the month of September, that could prove decisive.
Under NRL rules, players receive an extra-match ban for prior offences on their record.
It means a grade-two careless high tackle or dangerous-contact charge will go from a one-game ban to two with one prior offence on their record.
Players who have two prior offences receive a three-week ban and risk being ruled out of the grand final this weekend if charged and their team wins through.
Cronulla are the most at risk of all teams this weekend with nine of their 17 players named to face Manly having a prior charge hanging over their head.
The Sydney Roosters have eight players at risk from the side named, Manly seven and Penrith six.
There is also extra jeopardy for players with two or more prior charges on their record, who face bans for even some grade-one offences.
The NRL rules dictate any player guilty of a grade-one dangerous throw, striking, crusher tackle or shoulder charge cannot take a ban if they have two prior offences.
Players are given one extra warning come finals, but that will not save any player who is charged with the offences this weekend.
Of the finals hopefuls, Viliame Kikau, Felise Kaufusi, Max Plath, Izack Tago, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Reuben Garrick, Haumole Olakau'atu and Josh Aloiai are among those who have two or more charges on their record.
Any of those players would face a two-game ban for a grade-one dangerous throw with an early plea this weekend, or three games for striking, a crusher tackle or shoulder charge.
That factor is likely to place pressure on not just players, but the match review committee.
The situation comes amid a drastic increase in charges in recent weeks, with high tackles in particular on the rise across the league.
The NRL has acted to try and lessen the impact of prior offences this year, with grade-one charges now falling off a player's record after 10 matches.
But in the last two months alone 92 grade-one charges have been dished out across the league, with players often accepting fines without a second thought.
PLAYERS WALKING THE JUDICIARY TIGHTROPE:
Melbourne: Trent Loiero, Joe Chan*, Eliesa Katoa, Nelson Asofa-Solomona*, Tepai Moeroa
Penrith: Izack Tago*, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Mitch Kenny, Mavrik Geyer, Trent Toelau, Lindsay Smith
Sydney Roosters: Spencer Leniu, Dominic Young, Naufahu Whyte, Fetalaiga Pauga, Sam Walker, Nat Butcher, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Michael Jennings*, Sitili Tupouniua, Joseph Manu, Victor Radley*, Daniel Tupou, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves*, Angus Crichton
Cronulla: Sione Katoa, Oregon Kaufusi, Siosifa Talakai, Thomas Hazleton, Will Kennedy, Cameron McInnes, Billy Burns, Jesse Ramien, Kayal Iro, Jack Williams
Canterbury: Kurt Mann, Toby Sexton, Viliame Kikau*, Jaeman Salmon, Kurtis Morrin*, Stephen Crichton, Bronson Xerri
North Queensland: Jaxon Purdue, Reece Robson
Manly: Josh Aloiai*, Karl Lawton, Luke Brooks, Reuben Garrick*, Haumole Olakau'atu*, Taniela Paseka, Corey Waddell*, Nathan Brown
Dolphins: Anthony Milford, Tevita Junior Pangai, Kurt Donoghoe*, Max Plath*, Oryn Keeley, Felise Kaufusi*, Connelly Lemuelu
Newcastle: Leo Thompson, Jack Hetherington, Daniel Saifiti, Jacob Saifiti, Kai Pearce-Paul, Jackson Hastings, Sebastian Su'a
* Indicates player has two or more charges on record
