Adelaide star Izak Rankine's ban for using a homophobic slur won't be known until Wednesday.
Rankine, the Crows and the AFL continued high-level talks over Rankine's fate on Tuesday.
But it's understood the league's integrity unit is yet to finalise its investigation, with a decision now expected on Wednesday.
Rankine is facing a suspension of likely between three to five games for using a homophobic slur against a Collingwood opponent during Adelaide's three-point win on Saturday night.
The ladder-leading Crows have one home-and-away game remaining and will then host two finals.
Rankine is certain to be banned, with his club pushing for a three-match suspension which offers the brilliant playmaker a finals lifeline.
If the 25-year-old is suspended for four games, the Crows would need to lose a final en route to the grand final for Rankine to be available for the premiership decider.
A five-match ban would end Rankine's season.
Rankine will be the fourth player suspended since last April for directing a homophobic slur at an opponent during an AFL game.
Last month, West Coast's Jack Graham was banned for four games after he admitted making a homophobic remark to a GWS player.
Last year, Gold Coast's Wil Powell was suspended for five matches and Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson banned for three games, both for homophobic slurs.
Two VFL players have also recently been banned for homophobic slurs.
Last month, Sydney defender Riak Andrew was suspended for five matches for an anti-gay slur while playing for the Swans' reserves team against North Melbourne.
And in July last year, St Kilda's Lance Collard was banned for six games for homophobic comments while playing in the VFL for Sandringham against Williamstown.
While Collard's offence was during a VFL game, he was an AFL-listed player and, as such, bound by AFL rules
Rankine's teammate Taylor Walker on Tuesday said the 25-year-old would accept any punishment from the AFL.
"I spoke to him last night on the phone and he's very remorseful," former Crows captain Walker told Triple M radio.
"He understands that he has made a mistake and he'll accept whatever comes his way."
Walker said Rankine, regarded as among the league's most talented players, was "antagonised week-in, week-out; things get said to him that probably shouldn't".
"Unfortunately that's the situation," said Walker, who stressed it didn't excuse Rankine's slur.
"It's a bit of fun trying to put your opposition off but you have got to be super, super critical and understanding of who they are and their background and their journey."
