Canberra’s backline shortage has taken another hit, with winger Jordan Rapana facing a ban for a stray boot to the face of Egan Butcher.

Rapana has been charged over the first-half incident from the Raiders’ win over the Sydney Roosters, after he flung his leg out while fighting in a tackle.

His boot appeared to make contact, with Butcher sustaining a cut to the face.

Rapana then followed Butcher in the play to check on the forward and appeared to apologise.

The incident initially went unpenalised on the field, but Rapana was later put on report and has been hit with a grade-two offence. 

It’s believed the match review committee deemed the play as reckless given where the contact was made.

The Canberra flyer is facing a two-game ban that would be halved if he takes an early guilty plea and does not fight for a downgrade to a fine.

Butcher was also not charged over his role in the tackle, after Rapana could be seen complaining about the style of the Rooster’s contact with his legs in the tackle.

The charge comes with the Raiders already without fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad through a hamstring injury, while centre Jarrod Croker’s season is over after a shoulder dislocation.