Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell will put any chance of playing in the opening round of the premiership season on the line when he visits the AFL Tribunal next week.

The new Magpies skipper could have accepted a three-game suspension by pleading guilty to a rough conduct charge.

Instead, he will risk a four-match ban by challenging the charge, which stems from his shirtfront on West Coast youngster Patrick McGinnity in Saturday night's NAB Cup game at Subiaco.

With the 'Pies having a maximum of three more games in the knockout pre-season competition, a four-match sanction would rule the defender out for at least his club's first home and away game against Adelaide.

The hearing was postponed until next Tuesday, as Maxwell was with his teammates on a community camp on the Mornington Peninsula on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

The Magpies are not due to play their next game until February 28.

The case shapes as an all-or-nothing bid for Collingwood, rather than an attempt to have the charge downgraded.

It seems impossible for the Magpies to argue against the match review panel gradings of high contact and high impact, given McGinnity's jaw was broken.

The only remaining option is to argue Maxwell's conduct was accidental, rather than negligent, which if successful would clear him entirely.

Carlton's Setanta O'hAilpin had already accepted a four-game suspension for hitting and kicking teammate Cameron Cloke in Friday's intra-club practice match.

The Irishman has separately been suspended indefinitely by his club, with the Blues to decide on Friday what further sanctions will be imposed.

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