WARRINGTON Wolves are set to contest the three-match ban handed to prop Paul Vaughan by the Match Review Panel.

Following his red card for head contact on Owen Trout during Friday's 16-12 defeat to Leigh Leopards, the Australian was handed a suspension that rules him out of the remainder of the regular season on Monday afternoon.

The Wire retained the right to appeal the Grade D head contact charge, and it is understood they have chosen to do so.

Vaughan's case will therefore be heard at an Operational Rules Tribunal hearing tonight.

After Friday's game, Wire head coach Sam Burgess vehemently criticised the decision to send Vaughan from the field, with on-field official Liam Moore showing the red card upon advice from video referee Ben Thaler.

With Warrington's play-off place secure, Vaughan would return for their first knock-out game as things stand but the club feel they have a strong enough case to at least reduce the length of his suspension, as was the case with St Helens winger Tommy Makinson last week.

Makinson was sent off for a similar instance of head contact in his side's loss to Hull KR earlier this month but saw his three-match ban reduced to two games on appeal.

However, there also exists the possibility that any appeal is deemed frivolous, resulting in an extension of the initial ban. In this instance, Vaughan's absence would then eat into Warrington's play-off campaign.