Volatile Manly centre Steve Matai is facing a nine-week ban as Manly's woes deepened ahead of Sunday's must-win clash with in-form St George Illawarra at WIN Jubilee Oval on Sunday.
The Kiwi international was hit with a grade three careless reckless high tackle charge for his late high shot on Canterbury hooker Michael Ennis during the Sea Eagles' surprise loss on Sunday, his poor record at the judiciary inflating the potential punishment.
Matai will receive a seven-week ban should he take the early guilty plea – ending his season and hopes of playing in the end-of-year Four Nations tournament – while a loss at the judiciary would result in a nine-game suspension.
Prop Jason King is contemplating a week on the sideline for his high tackle on Andrew Ryan, further decimating Manly's already thin playing ranks.
Lyon (ankle), Anthony Watmough (ankle), Matt Ballin (concussion), Joe Galuvao (groin), Kieran Foran (shoulder) and Brent Kite (collarbone) are all battling to be fit for the fourth qualifying final, while lock Glenn Stewart is suspended.
The Sea Eagles are unlikely to contest the Matai charge but may decide King's case is worth fighting as his suspension will remain at a week even if he loses at the judiciary.
In some rare good news at Brookvale, utility Chris Bailey is free to play the Dragons after his high tackle charge was rated at the low end of the scale.
"It's going to be a bit of a nervous wait," Sea Eagles co-captain Jamie Lyon said on Monday.
"We've got a few guys out already so it’s going to make it an even harder task."
Coach Des Hasler was critical of Matai for leaving the already depleted Sea Eagles another man down.
Lyon admitted the fiery centre plays on the edge of the rulebook but needs to show some restraint.
"We love the way he plays and the attitude and aggression he brings but sometimes he may need to pick his times a bit better," Lyon said.
"But he's an aggressive player and very passionate and he's a player we love to play alongside."
"It's a contact sport and these sorts of thing happen."
The Dragons will go into Sunday's game as unbackable favourites but Lyon refuses to concede it's a lost cause.
"We have got a few out and it's going to be a really big challenge for us, but we're confident in the players we have still available," he said.
"We don't know exactly who's in or who's out at the moment, we probably won't know for a few days yet."
"It could be everyone at the moment, we could have quite a few out."