The NRL has confirmed court-bound Canberra centre Curtis Scott is free to play in the Raiders' NRL trial against Canterbury on Saturday.
Coach Ricky Stuart said he'll pick Scott as he waits to hear if NRL boss Todd Greenberg will stand him down ahead of an impending court date.
Scott is accused of assaulting a female police officer and a male senior constable before being tasered and arrested following Australia Day celebrations.
The 22-year-old has pleaded not guilty to six charges and his case is due for mention in court on March 20, a week after the Raiders' season opener.
Scott hasn't played for Canberra yet after joining on a four-year deal worth a reported $1.8 million from Melbourne this off-season.
An NRL spokesman said Scott was allowed to play in trials but no decision had been made whether he would be subject to the no-fault stand down rule for the premiership season.
Stuart said the club had taken the accusations very seriously but also appeared confident his centre would be available sooner rather than later.
"He's playing this weekend. That still has to be dealt with by the powers that be but he's available to play this weekend," Stuart said.
"He is looking forward to playing some football. He's remorseful in regards to what's happened and it would be an understatement to say we haven't taken this seriously.
"We genuinely have and it's been an ongoing situation but I can genuinely say he's remorseful about the choices and the situation he got himself into, but it's not the Wanda Beach Murders either."
Stuart will take around 26 players to Port Macquarie to face Canterbury with English superstar John Bateman (shoulder) the only one of his best 17 sidelined.
England international halfback George Williams will make his club debut and Stuart is eager to see how he performs alongside five-eighth Jack Wighton.
"I just hope he finds a bit of cohesion and combination with Jack," Stuart said.
"He's played a lot of football with (Canberra hooker) Josh Hodgson from a national point of view but he hasn't been able to do a lot of training with Jack.
"He's had a thigh injury and been out of the main session for three or four weeks of the five or six weeks we've had, so to get 50 or 60 minutes on the weekend will be really important for both those boys."
Australian Associated Press
