All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen has declared the New Zealand Rugby Union will continue an unlikely bid to restore the reputation of hooker Keven Mealamu.

Mealamu's battle to clear his name after being found guilty of head-butting England captain Lewis Moody in the Twickenham test last weekend resumes, possibly on Friday, when the NZRU attempt to overturn the four-week ban imposed by International Rugby Board judicial officer Professor Lorne Crerar last night.

Hansen was in a bullish mood when confirming the punishment would be appealed - he would not specify the basis of the challenge but renewed a spirited defence of the 82-test veteran.

"This is a case we'll go to the death on, he deserves that support.

"We're defending a guy whose character has been questioned and it shouldn't be.

"He's not a dirty player, he never has been."

Mealamu was charged by IRB's citing officer John West after the Irishman reviewed footage of Mealamu colliding with Moody at a ruck during the 50th minute of the All Blacks 26-16 victory.

Although the camera angles of some replays appear damning All Blacks management insist Mealamu's actions were unintentional, out of character, and it was his shoulder - not forehead -- that impacted on England's openside flanker.

Professor Crerar was not convinced after a two-hour hearing in Glasgow; Hansen hoped a three-member judicial panel would take a different view.

"We'll present a similar case but what I'm confident about is there'll be three people judging it rather than one," he said.

Crerar, who banned Tony Woodcock for a week during the 2008 Grand Slam tour after the prop was deemed guilty of punching an Irish opponent, is no longer involved in the judicial process.

Mealamu expressed his disappointment with his suspension last night. Hansen, captain Richie McCaw and his teammates shared those sentiments.

"If Kevvy said he didn't do it, he didn't do it," Hansen said.

"The guys were gutted because he can't play and more importantly they were gutted for Kevvy because of the man he is.

"Everyone knows it's not in his nature to do that."

Mealamu initially faced an eight-week stand down but it was halved due to the 31-year-old's "exemplary" disciplinary record.

If the ban is rescinded there was no guarantee Mealamu would be selected to play Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday (NZT) given the distractions he has been subjected to since arriving in Edinburgh.

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