Apisai Koroisau could be free to play for Wests Tigers in round one next year after being cleared to absorb his NRL ban in the Pacific Championships.
Koroisau was handed a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle in the last round of the NRL season, after being sin-binned in the Tigers' loss to Parramatta.
The suspension had the potential to wipe the captain out of the Tigers' opening three games of next season, and delay his long-awaited reunion with Jarome Luai.
However, the Australian Associated Press has been told that Koroisau will be able to absorb at least two of those games in the Pacific Championships, given he would have been representing Fiji.
If the Bati beat Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea to finish top of their division, Koroisau will be able to apply to have the play-off also counted in his ban.
If approved by NRL judiciary Madam Chairperson Geoff Bellew, Koroisau would then officially be cleared to play in the Tigers' opening game of 2025.
There is also good news for Newcastle, with prop Leo Thompson being fine to play in its first game of next year despite his high-tackle ban.
Thompson was suspended for one match after a high shot in the Knights' elimination-final loss to North Queensland.
But after being picked in the Kiwis' Pacific Championship squad, Thompson will be able to serve the ban in New Zealand's opening match against Australia.
Melbourne prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona is also expected to be able to wipe the majority of his five-match ban in representative matches.
After already missing the grand final, Asofa-Solomona is expected to be able to use New Zealand's three Tests as part of his ban.
He will then be able to return in the Storm's second game of next season.
