It's D-Day for Olympic hopeful Ben Kersten, but his manager Phill Bates fears another rejection by Cycling Australia (CA) could see the young cyclist quit representing his country.

Kersten will seek to be reinstated into the Olympic team for Athens when he fronts a three-member CA tribunal in Sydney on Thursday.

The panel will be headed by solicitor Brian Doyle, former NSW Minister for Sport Gabriel Harrison, and Kevin Nichols, who was member of the 1984 gold medal winning 4000m pursuit team in Los Angeles.

Bates, who has stepped aside from his role as a CA board member during the case, believes Kersten has a strong case, but acknowledges that Kersten could turn his back on Australian cycling if his appeal is dismissed.

"I don't know what his Dutch relations are, but I know (Dutch officials) would love to have him in the Dutch team. With (the name) Kersten, there is a Dutch link," Bates said.

"But Ben's pretty committed, I think he's committed to go on, but hopefully it will start with his selection tomorrow."

Kersten originally missed out on the team when he lost a time trial to Sean Eadie for the last spot on the Olympic sprint team.

He was then added to the team when Eadie had his nomination removed following allegations that he tried to import banned human growth hormones.

Eadie was subsequently cleared and re-nominated for the team in Kersten's place.

Kersten's appeal is based on the grounds that he should have been picked ahead of Eadie in the first place, and that the time trial unfairly favoured Eadie.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP