D-DAY looms for Dragons star Jack de Belin and coach Paul McGregor admits the club will be relieved to have some "closure" on the saga.
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Justice Melissa Perry will hand down her verdict in de Belin's federal court case against the NRL at 4pm on Friday, with the outcome set to have huge ramifications for the code.
The NSW Origin rep has mounted a challenge to the NRL's new no-fault stand-down policy that has seen him indefinitely sidelined awaiting the outcome of his sexual assault case.
De Belin was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in a Wollongong apartment in December. He has pleaded not guilty and vehemently maintains his innocence.
The charge saw the ARLC adopt it's new stand-down policy that stipulates players facing serious charges - carrying 11 years imprisonment or more - can not play until their court process has concluded.
Dylan Walker will return for Manly this weekend after being found not-guilty of assaulting his partner, a charge that also saw him stood down under the policy.
The respective legal teams concluded their cases a fortnight ago with all parties sweating on the ultimate outcome.
McGregor said his discussions with de Belin have centred purely on his well-being and not "hypotheticals" relating to the verdict.
"It's all hypotheticals at the moment," McGregor said.
"Of course I've spoken to Jack and it's mainly around his welfare at the moment and how he's feeling. We're looking for some closure and the decision that's made on Friday afternoon's important.
"There's been conversation around it on a weekly basis, on a daily basis, so it'll be nice, once the decision's made that everyone can move on and Jack gets a little bit of closure around what's next.
"What happens after that I really haven't given much thought to. I've got to focus on the team I've got training that's available this week. That's the only thing I'm focus on."
Even if the decision falls in his favour, de Belin will remain at long odds to play in Sunday's clash against Newcastle.
The Dragons will fly to Mudgee on Friday and, with the verdict up in the air, de Belin is unlikely to travel with the team, making his side's round-12 clash with Cronulla a more likely return date.
Should the NRL's win the case, the 27-year-old will likely be out of action until at least June next year, possibly much longer.
The club will seek salary cap relief should that be the case but are yet to put that process in motion as it awaits Friday's outcome.