South Sydney hooker Issac Luke faces his rugby league fate on Tuesday night as he seeks to beat a one-match ban at the NRL judiciary and take the field against Canterbury in Sunday’s grand final.

Luke was charged with a grade one dangerous throw on Sydney Roosters star Sonny Bill Williams in the Rabbitohs’ 32-22 preliminary final win.

The Kiwi No.9 has pleaded not guilty in a bid to play in this season’s decider and his fate will rest in the three-man judiciary panel made up of former first grade players.

Luke was successful in beating a grade one dangerous contact charge at the judiciary earlier this month that enabled him to play in the final round loss to defending premiers the Roosters.

The charge emanated from a tackle from his Canterbury opposite Michael Ennis.

In compelling evidence, Luke then told the judiciary he feared serious consequences as a result of the tackle and that is why he lashed out at Ennis with his boots.

“I was panicking about my neck being broken,” Luke said in evidence.

“I have kids … I want to put food in their mouths.

“I was trying to get my neck out of that position.”

Penrith-bound Api Koroisau, who capably deputised for Luke earlier this season when he was sidelined with a shoulder injury, shapes as the likely substitute if the appeal is not successful.

But Souths captain John Sutton is confident that won’t happen.

“I have only seen the tackle a few times, but I don’t think there was too much in it,” Sutton told AAP.

Luke’s exclusion would mean both sides for this season’s decider at ANZ Stadium will probably be without their first choice rakes, with Bulldogs captain Ennis an unlikely starter due to a fractured foot.