Fiery South Sydney hooker Issac Luke is in danger of missing the start of the season after allegedly pushing referee Jason Robinson in the back during the Rabbitohs' Charity Shield loss to St George Illawarra on Saturday night.
The New Zealand Test representative was charged with contrary conduct by the NRL's match review committee and faces a week on the sideline.
Luke is accused of shoving Robinson in the back while the referee was standing in Souths' defensive line in the 31st minute of the match, won 18-12 by the Dragons.
Luke was not placed on report by Robinson but failed to escape censure from the MRC.
The Bunnies No.9 will sit out the first round clash with traditional rivals the Roosters if he takes the early guilty plea or fights the charge at the judiciary and loses.
It continues a forgettable aftermath to the Charity Shield for Souths, who had three players reported and lost young forward Luke Burgess for three months due to a foot injury.
Burgess was one of the players charged but escaped further action for dropping his knees in a tackle while John Sutton (dangerous throw) also has no case to answer.
Fellow forward Eddy Pettybourne was charged for a careless high tackle on Chase Stanley but will avoid suspension with an early guilty plea.
And Brisbane veteran Petero Civoniceva is set to miss the opening round of the NRL season after he was charged with a grade three careless high tackle.
The charge stems from an incident with Melbourne forward Ryan Hinchcliffe in the second half of Saturday night's trial loss to the Storm in Hobart.
The tackle left Hinchcliffe concussed and play was stopped for a number of minutes while he was stretchered from the field.
Civoniceva has had a similar offence in the previous 12 months which means even with an early guilty plea he will miss Brisbane's opening round clash against the Eels at Parramatta Stadium on Friday, March 2.
The Test and Origin prop is desperate to play Round 1 as it will be his first game back in Broncos colours since his return to the club after four years at Penrith.