PETE Bury and Hayden Graham will miss the preliminary final clash with Centrals Trinity Beach after Port Douglas reluctantly accepted a one-match set penalty for the star duo.

Bury was reported for head butting and Graham for striking during a jolting 32-point semi final loss to South Cairns. Both incidents appeared minor but were deemed worthy of a one-week ban by AFL Cairns. The incidents were graded as intentional conduct, low impact and to a high contact area on the league’s set penalty matrix.

Crocs coach Brad Cooper said the club wasn’t prepared to risk the suspensions being increased to two weeks at the AFL Cairns tribunal should the original decisions be upheld, which would rule them out of the grand final if they topple the Bulldogs on Saturday.

“It was too big a risk in the end because who knows what would happen at the tribunal,” Cooper said.

“We feel there was very little in both cases and we’re disappointed not to have Pete and Hayden available for what is a massive game.

“There were six or seven incidents like that throughout the game but we’re just going to have to wear it and move on.”

Port Douglas playmaker Todd Shapter suffered a broken nose in a clash on the far side of Cazalys Stadium that was fortunate to escape scrutiny. He was forced from the field with the blood rule and was visibly upset once he reached the interchange bench.

The bans add fuel to the us-against-them sentiment surrounding Port Douglas, and comes less than a week after their reserves team was stripped of the double chance for playing ineligible players.

The loss of Bury and Graham is a huge blow for the Crocs, who are also sweating on the fitness of gun captain Kye Chapple heading into the do-or-die final. Chapple spent the last quarter on the bench against South Cairns with a heavily iced knee, although Cooper expected him to play.

"We've got some guys in good form in the reserves that will come into the side," Cooper said.

"We'll pick our best available 22 and get stuck in on Saturday."