Flanker Richard Brown will take his place in the ET Perth Spirit side to play the Central Coast Rays on Sunday after being cleared of any wrongdoing by a judicial hearing in Sydney.

Brown appeared before the hearing after receiving two yellow cards against the Sydney Fleet last weekend. He was sent from the field with 30 minutes left on the clock.

But judicial officer Mark Groom later overruled both yellow card decisions and declared Brown free to play.

New recruit Scott Fardy will join Brown in the backrow, with Luke Doherty moving to the second row and Sitaleki Timani shifting to the bench.

Scott Daruda will start at inside centre and Ryan Cross the right wing, swapping with Lachlan MacKay and Dan Bailey, respectively, who both move to the reserves.

ET Perth Spirit John Mulvihill said the Central Coast Rays had picked up a bonus point in every one of their three games, on two occasions for scoring four tries.

“Their backs scored five tries against the East Coast Aces last week and Brett Sheehan, Sam Norton Knight and Peter Hewat are dangerous players,” he said.

“The Rays thumped the Aces and came close against the Vikings and the Fleet, so they’re not a team to be taken lightly.”

Mulvihill said he expected the Spirit to bounce back from their loss to the Sydney Fleet, who scored 32 of their 35 points while the Spirit had either one or two men off the field with yellow cards.

“People make mistakes but we got some harsh calls, and the boys will be working hard to correct the scoreboard,” he said.

The game kicks-off at 4pm (EST) on Sunday at Blue Tongue Stadium in Gosford.

The squad is:
1.AJ Whalley
2. Tai McIsaac
3. Troy Takiari
4. Tom Hockings
5. Luke Doherty
6. Scott Fardy
7. Richard Brown
8. Scott Fava

9. Matt Henjak (c)
10. James Hilgendorf
11. Nick Cummins
12. Scott Daruda
13. Junior Pelesasa
14. Ryan Cross
15. Cameron Shepherd

16. Luke Holmes
17.Kieran Longbottom
18. Sitaleki Timani
19. Will Brock
20. James Stannard
21. Lachlan MacKay
22. Dan Bailey