GREATER Western Sydney will challenge Shane Mumford's one-match striking charge at the AFL Tribunal on Wednesday.

Mumford was suspended for one game, having caught Sydney opponent George Hewett with a swinging arm to the head during a practice match last Friday.

The incident was graded as intentional conduct, with low impact to the head, equating to a one-match ban.

Despite the incident occurring in a scratch match, Mumford will still serve his one-match suspension during the home and away season should it be upheld at the Tribunal.

WHO MAKES FINALS? Do the 2019 Ladder Predictor

It means he could be unavailable for selection for the first three games of the year, having already ruled out of the first two matches of the campaign due to a club-imposed ban for the infamous white powder video that surfaced late last year.

The ban cannot be served concurrently with his club-imposed suspension.

The 32-year-old will still be eligible to play in the JLT Community Series regardless of the Tribunal outcome.

Mumford was making his return to football following a year out of the game – having retired following the conclusion of the 2017 season – but also from a hamstring setback sustained over Christmas. He played just the second half of the scratch match.

He was recruited back to the club as a rookie in December last year.

GWS plays Essendon, West Coast and Richmond to begin the season.