Curtis, who has been granted a stay of sanction to play in Sunday's preliminary final against Myrtleford, must sweat for more than a week after being suspended for one match by the Ovens and Murray tribunal for striking Magpie Michael Bordignon.

Advocate Iain Findlay has been involved in eight hearings over the past two weeks.

"I haven't seen anything like this before," Findlay, who will represent Curtis, said.

"There have been a number of appeals in Melbourne and country Victoria."

Curtis was rubbed out for two matches, but one of those has been suspended for 12 months.

The process has been further slowed by there being only one AFL Victoria appeals panel.

Curtis was granted a stay of sanction to play at John Flower Oval on Sunday due to exceptional and compelling circumstances.

His hearing will be held at Docklands on Thursday.

Curtis has been cited by the Magpies three times in only two seasons in the Ovens and Murray which has added to the angst between Lavington and Wangaratta.

Serious question marks hang over the fitness of Shaun Mannagh (concussion) and Nick Meredith (hand) in the lead-up to Sunday's knockout final.

It would be a major shock if Mannagh played after it was revealed at the tribunal that he was still experiencing headaches and dizziness.