Leinster will appeal the two-week ban imposed on prop Cian Healy, which threatens to rule him out of two key games.
The Ireland front row was suspended following an incident in the province’s European Champions Cup defeat to Toulon last Sunday.
Now he faces the prospect of missing this weekend’s Aviva Stadium rematch and the crunch Pro12 meeting with Munster at Thomond Park on Sunday, December 27,
However, Leinster released a statement on Thursday saying that they were set to launch an appeal against the punishment.
They argue that he was cited for one offence, yet suspended for another.
“Leinster believe that this is a failure to follow due process and is unfair to Cian Healy,” read the statement.
“Leinster Rugby have further requested that the chairman of the Disciplinary Panel lift Cian Healy's suspension pending the outcome of the appeal, which Leinster are confident will be successful.
“Until there is a further update, Leinster Rugby will be making no further comment on this issue,” the statement concluded.
As it stands, Healy will miss the Leinster's Champions Cup clash with Toulon and the Pro12 derby
Healy originally faced a charge of striking with the knee, which could have attracted a ban of up to a year.
At an independent disciplinary hearing in Paris on Thursday judicial officer Roger Morris from Wales, decided that the charge of striking could not be proven.
He ruled but that Healy had committed an act of foul play and amended the charge to "dangerous charging or obstructing or grabbing of an opponent without the ball, including shouldering"
The judicial officer found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected two weeks as the appropriate entry point, with no reduction available due to previous suspensions.
