South Sydney star George Burgess is to contest the grading of his contrary conduct charge, hoping to play in the second week of the NRL finals if the Rabbitohs’ title defence is still alive.

Burgess has pleaded guilty to the charge he copped for throwing a water bottle from the bench at Sydney Roosters rival Kane Evans and will miss Sunday’s elimination final against Cronulla.

But the club will attempt to get it downgraded from a grade two offence to grade one, meaning he would get only a one-match ban instead of two.