Crusaders forward Pablo Matera was cleared on Wednesday to play in the Super Rugby Pacific final against the Blues in a major boost for the 10-time champions.
Argentina captain Matera successfully defended his case after accumulating four yellow cards across the season, triggering an automatic Sanzaar judicial committee hearing for repeat sin-bin offences.
It found there was "no pattern of persistent offending" in the 28-year-old's playing style, leaving him free for selection in Saturday's decider at Auckland's Eden Park.
Matera picked up two yellow cards, resulting in a sending off, in the Crusaders' 20-7 semi-final win over the Chiefs.
"Having conducted a detailed review of all the evidence in relation to the four yellow cards and having considered the evidence and submissions on behalf of the Player, together with the surrounding circumstances, the Committee was satisfied that there was no pattern of persistent offending by the Player which was of concern," Judicial Committee Chair Nigel Hampton ruled.
“Two of the yellow cards were given for technical offences (that is, not Foul Play) and those two technical offences were of a different nature to each other. The remaining two yellow cards again were for offences of a different nature and showed no pattern of concern.
"The Judicial Committee found that these were exceptional circumstances which meant that no further sanction was warranted.
“In addition, the Committee decided that the red carding and sending off of the Player was a sufficient penalty in these unusual circumstances and that no additional sanction was appropriate in relation to that. However, the Red Card will remain on the Player’s record.”
His availability is critical, given the Christchurch-based side are without the services of injured All Blacks loose forward Ethan Blackadder and are awaiting the diagnosis of the thumb injury which ruled Test veteran Sam Whitelock out of the semi-final.
Coach Scott Robertson said his side were also nursing numerous "bumps and bruises" after being forced to make about 250 combined tackles in an exhausting defensive performance against the Chiefs.
The Blues, who have won 15 successive matches in securing a home final, reported no injury problems this week following their 20-19 semi-final win over the ACT Brumbies.
They are hoping two All Blacks who didn't feature in that game -- Dalton Papalii and Caleb Clarke -- will be declared fit as they chase a first title since 2004.
