With their season on life support, Wests Tigers are going for broke and will fight the suspension handed to young playmaker Latu Fainu.

The Tigers were set to be without Fainu for Saturday's trip to Canberra but have opted to contest the charge handed to the 21-year-old that stemmed from their miserable loss to Canterbury.

Fainu has pleaded not guilty and will escape suspension if he convinces the panel to strike out a two-match ban for his tackle on Leo Thompson.

The Tongan international executed a low tackle on the Bulldogs front-rower with Thompson flying head over heels.

Fainu was fiercely defended by Nine Network analyst Andrew Johns.

"He's done nothing wrong ... you can't take accidents out of the game," Johns said on the Sunday Footy Show.

"You can't tackle high in case you chin them, but you can't go below the knees now, so where are you supposed to hit them?

"Not even a penalty for mine, you can't take the accidents out of the game."

Fainu was sinbinned at the time and will have another match slapped onto his ban if he is unsuccessful at the judiciary.

If Fainu is suspended, Tigers coach Benji Marshall may opt to hand talented five-eighth Javon Andrews an NRL debut.

Andrews, 19, has been a revelation in NSW Cup this season with 19 try assists and five tries for Western Suburbs.

Elsewhere, South Sydney back-rower David Fifita will also contest a grade two dangerous contact charge on Tuesday, following the Rabbitohs' loss to Canberra on the weekend.

Australian Associated Press