He hasn't been a rugby league player since 2009 but Karmichael Hunt threatens to overshadow the NRL's season kick-off in Brisbane.
Former Bronco Hunt will face Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast just hours before his old club begins the 2015 NRL season against defending premiers South Sydney.
The 28-year-old, who quit the code in 2009 to pursue an AFL career with the Gold Coast Suns and is now with Super Rugby's Queensland Reds, is facing four charges of supplying a dangerous drug.
He'll front court alongside Gold Coast Titans pair Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling, who were also served with notices to appear by Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission last month in a scandal which has rocked the NRL club.
Six other current or former Titans, including State of Origin stars Greg Bird and Dave Taylor, have also been caught up in the cocaine scandal with further court appearances to come on Monday.
Gold Coast lawyer Campbell MacCallum, who is representing several of the Titans' players including Dowling, said he expected Thursday's appearance to be fairly straightforward.
MacCallum told AAP he was anticipating the matter to be adjourned for a later date to allow time for the matters to be mediated.
Titans recruit Josh Hoffman said the rest of the team hadn't lost their focus amid the scandal and Thursday's developments wouldn't overshadow their excitement to get their season underway against the Wests Tigers on Saturday.
"With the playing group that we've got here we're happy to move on with things and look forward to the season starting," Hoffman said.
"That's the kind of buzz we've got around the camp at the moment."
Titans coach Neil Henry has already expressed his desire for the five current players who've been stood down to return to first team duties after their initial court appearance.
A decision on whether the players will be allowed back into the fold isn't likely until after Monday's appearances meaning Falloon and Dowling are unlikely to have any part to play against the Tigers.
Reds coach Richard Graham has already ruled out making Hunt available for selection in their Super Rugby derby with the NSW Waratahs on Saturday night.
It will be the third straight match the code-hopper has missed since the scandal broke and no official decision has been made on what will happen to Hunt following Thursday's court appearance.
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