LUIS Suarez's legal team are confident they can persuade the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to halve the four-month ban imposed by FIFA for biting an opponent when the appeal hearing takes place today.
The Barcelona striker's lawyers have travelled to CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, ahead of the hearing and are expected to argue that as the biting incident took place while playing for Uruguay in the World Cup then the ban should be limited to international football.
The legal team are confident of obtaining a reduction of the ban to two months, meaning the former Liverpool striker would be available to play from August 25, and for him to be allowed to train with Barcelona for the duration of his suspension.
CAS had said a final decision is likely "some days after the conclusion of the hearing" but there is a chance it could be made as early as today once the appeal is over.
FIFA imposed a four-month ban from all football-related activity, plus a nine-match international ban and a £66,000 fine after Suarez bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 win on June 24. FIFA's appeal committee later upheld the sanctions.