Melbourne have been granted an extension until Monday afternoon to decide whether captain Cameron Smith contests a maximum two-game ban for dangerous contact on Kevin Proctor.

The reigning Dally M medallist on Sunday drew a grade two dangerous contact charge after pulling the leg of Proctor in Saturday’s win over Gold Coast.

Smith can reduce his suspension to one match if he takes the early guilty plea and was one of four Melbourne players charged with dangerous contact from the match.

Ordinarily, clubs have until midday on Monday to decide whether to accept or fight charges, but that has been extended until 3pm AEST given the number of charges the Storm must answer to.

Prop Sam Kasiano also faces a week on the sideline for an apparent head slam on Jarrod Wallace, while Josh Addo-Carr and Cameron Munster can avoid bans with early guilty pleas for dangerous contact on Brenko Lee.

But it is Smith’s decision that will attract the most attention.

The 34-year-old famously missed the 2008 preliminary final against Cronulla and the grand final against the Sea Eagles when he was banned for two games for a grapple tackle.

Those are the last two games the Queensland and Kangaroos captain has missed through suspension, with his only other ban stemming from a dangerous throw in 2003.

Coincidentally, Smith’s Storm meet the Sea Eagles on Saturday, however some experts believe the Australian and Queensland captain is lucky not to be facing a longer ban.

“He grabs him at the leg and twists him around. If it was done to his arm, a chicken wing, Cameron would’ve had a month on the sideline,” rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns said on the Nine Network.

“I know Cameron’s come out and said it wasn’t deliberate, but it’s dangerous.”

Smith was adamant after the match there was no malice in the tackle, referring to his close friendship with Proctor following their time together at the Storm.

Should Smith be rubbed out of the match, back-up hooker Brandon Smith is likely to wear the No.9 jumper against the Sea Eagles.