Australia will be one man down for their critical clash with Belgium after midfielder Aran Zalewski was suspended for hitting a Spanish player in the head with his stick during the previous match.
Zalewski faced a tribunal hearing and was suspended for one match on video evidence of making contact with the Spaniard's head. The court agreed the contact was accidental, but banned him anyway.
Australia's head coach Graham Reid was "very disappointed" with the ban given the finding was accidental contact.
It means Australia are down to 15 for the game against the world No.6 team, which starts at 9.30am AEST.
Fortunately for Australia, the Belgians are also likely to have a reduced bench with their star player Tom Boon carrying an injury. .
The Zalewski charge came from an incident in the fourth quarter when there was a tangle of players and the stick struck the Spaniard in the head.
Zalewski immediately apologised to his opponent, but Spaniard Salvador Piera was pictured pointing to his cheekbone as the players exchanged heated words during the match.
The code of conduct hearing ruled that the contact was accidental but regardless issued a one match ban.
"We accept the decision but we're very disappointed with the outcome given the accidental nature of the incident and Aran's previous good behaviour," Reid said.
Belgium are leading Pool A with six points after victories over Great Britain (4-1) and Brazil, a 12-0 rout.
Australia, ranked No.1 in the world, are precariously placed in third spot with just three points, having beaten New Zealand 2-1 and lost to Spain 1-0.
