Queens Park Rangers are preparing themselves for the Football Association hearing into the 2009 signing of Alejandro Faurlin.The hearing, which starts on Tuesday, centres around seven charges relating to the initial deal arising from the Argentine midfielder's ownership.
QPR won promotion to the Premier League on Saturday but if found guilty could face a points deduction.
The club deny any wrongdoing and a decision is expected on Friday.
The FA has been investigating the case since September, when QPR asked for permission to buy out a third party that owned Faurlin's economic rights.
The club was prompted to do this by the Football League's introduction of rules prohibiting the third-party ownership of players.
The league told QPR they would have to notify the FA of their plans and it then became apparent the club may have been in breach of FA regulations for more than a year.
Saturday's 2-0 win at Watford secured QPR's promotion to the Premier League as champions but any definite celebrations have had to be put on hold as the spectre of docked points hangs over the west London club.
If a points deduction is indeed deemed necessary, then Neil Warnock's side could drop into the play-off places. The club would be expected to appeal should the FA rule against them.
On Monday, the Press Association said the Football League refused to comment on reports that it has warned teams in the top six that the play-offs may be delayed pending the outcome of the discliplinary case.
In April, Warnock expressed his disappointment at press reports that the club could be docked as many as 15 points, although the FA have since moved to deny that any decision had been made.
English football's governing body also confirmed it was not its policy to "comment on the charges, evidence or potential range of sanctions before the outcome of a disciplinary hearing".
The reason the case has been brought against QPR is because of rules that were brought in following the Carlos Tevez saga. That case dragged on for two years after Tevez helped West Ham beat relegation from the Premier League in 2007 despite being owned by a third party.
Sheffield United, ironically then managed by Warnock, went down instead and lodged a legal challenge that ended with the Hammers owing the Premier League ?5.5m for breaking the rules and the Blades ?20m in compensation.
West Ham, however, avoided any points deduction that would have taken them down in Sheffield United's place.
QPR have led the Championship standings since early in the season and have only lost five times in the league.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport