HEAD coach Carl Hogg says Worcester Warriors are “hoping” Alafoti Fa’osiliva will be available for their Aviva Premiership trip to Bath on Saturday (3pm).

The back-row is appearing before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel in Coventry tonight at 6.30pm.

Fa’osiliva has been charged with striking with the arm and/or elbow, contrary to law 10.4(a).

Hogg said he didn’t want to comment directly on tonight’s hearing but hinted Warriors would challenge the disciplinary charge against their player.

Former Bath forward Fa’osiliva was red-carded in the 52nd minute of last Friday’s Premiership derby draw against Gloucester after a collision with lock Mariano Galarza.

A guilty verdict would see Fa’osiliva miss, at least, the clash with ex-club Bath.

“It’s going to a disciplinary panel this evening and I think it will be unwise of me to comment on it before it goes in front of the panel,” said Hogg.

“That decision was born by the television match official (TMO) so the TMO influenced the decision of the referee."

The giant screens inside Sixways were not working due to technical problems and referee Luke Pearce could not view the collision again which sent Galarza tumbling to the ground.

Pearce was directed to make the game-changing decision by television match official Stuart Terheege, who claimed Fa’osiliva had charged at Galarza using his arm or elbow.

Hogg said: “Nowadays, concussion is one of the things in the forefronts of people’s minds.

“It will be interesting to see how they decide this evening.

“It goes down to interpretation and I will leave that to a disciplinary panel.”

Warriors have been training with Fa’osiliva in their plans this week and are hoping he won't be handed a ban.

Hogg added: “We have got a Plan A and a Plan B but we are hoping Fa’osiliva will be available for the weekend.

“He’s looking forward to playing against his old club Bath but we will see what happens this evening.”