The careers of St George Illawarra star forward Jack de Belin and ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie will be on the line in the Federal Court on Friday afternoon.

Justice Melissa Perry will at 4pm on Friday hand down her judgement into de Belin’s case against the NRL and ARL Commission.

De Belin is challenging the game’s no fault stand down policy after he became the first player sidelined as a result of the controversial rules which were rubber-stamped in March.

Under the rules, the game can stand down any player charged with a serious crime which carries a jail term of 11 years or more.

Incumbent NSW Origin lock de Belin was stood down after he was charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in a Wollongong unit.

He has pleaded not guilty.

De Belin sued the NRL arguing the rules were unconscionable, represent a restraint of trade, constitute unlawful interference with his contract and that the governing body were misleading in their conduct.

Should he be successful, it could open the door for him to make his return to the playing field against Newcastle in Mudgee on Sunday.

However, a more likely return date would be the following week against Cronulla at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium.

If he is successful, it’s understood the NRL would seek to re-draft the rules to comply with Justice Perry’s ruling.

It is possible that if the Federal Court finds the rules illegal on certain grounds, the NRL could re-draft them to adhere.

Beattie has previously acknowledged that his tenure is on the line after he spearheaded the introduction of the rules.

Over a four-day court hearing last month, the Federal Court was told that the game’s broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel Nine had warned the NRL their next TV rights deal would plummet in value if players like de Belin were allowed to continue playing while they had serious criminal charges hanging over their heads.

Melbourne Storm chairman Bart Campbell said the game’s “summer from hell” had cost the club $500,000 in lost sponsorship after potential backers had pulled out of deals stating they couldn’t be involved in rugby league given it’s stream of ugly headlines over the summer.

If the NRL is successful, it could have dire consequences for de Belin’s career.

At 28, he is off contract in 2020 and his next deal could be the most important of his career, especially given he last year arrived as one of the game’s marquee back-rowers.

His criminal charges could take 18 months to be decide, meaning he may not be able to take the field before 2021.