South Sydney could be without Eddie Pettybourne for Friday night's desperation NRL clash against Parramatta, with the second rower facing a week on the sidelines for a high tackle.

However, St George Illawarra prop Neville Costigan will escape penalty after he was charged with the same grade one offence, and will be on hand to help the Dragons try and secure the minor premiership against Newcastle on Saturday.

A bad recent record means Pettybourne will have to fight his careless high tackle at the NRL judiciary if he wants to play this weekend, with carry over points meaning he will be suspended for a match if he can't prove his innocence or takes the early guilty plea.

The Rabbitohs must beat the Eels if they are to be any chance of making the finals, and it will be a severe blow to them if they were to lose another strike forward with John Sutton and Dave Taylor already out with injury.

Melbourne's Billy Slater was the only other player charged by the match review committee - also for a low grade careless high tackle - but despite carry over points will be free to tackle the Wests Tigers on Sunday if he takes the early guilty plea.

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