Sydney Roosters five-eighth James Maloney is set to be cleared to take his place in the minor premier's opening finals match on Friday against Melbourne, with a tripping charge unlikely to result in suspension for the former Origin star.

Maloney is almost certain to be charged on Monday by the NRL match review committee over a bizarre incident in the first half of Friday night's 30-0 demolition of South Sydney at Allianz Stadium, in which he lashed out with his leg after losing the ball near the Rabbitohs line.

The Cronulla-bound playmaker was placed on report after making contact with the thigh of Souths forward Kyle Turner, who picked up the ball and was attempting to run it off his own line.

The look on Maloney's face suggested the former NSW five-eighth was immediately aware of the possibility his actions could result in a suspension during the finals and he later said: "It was just a reaction, a bad one".

However, it is expected that Maloney will be charged with grade-one tripping, which would enable him to escape suspension, rather than a more serious offence.

While there have been suggestions the 29-year-old could face a kicking charge, which carries a penalty of 200 demerit points for a grade-one offence, the judiciary panel would have to be convinced he had deliberately struck Turner for the charge to be upheld if he chose to contest it.

With halfback Mitchell Pearce not expected back from a hamstring injury until later in the finals series, the judiciary news will be a welcome relief to Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who would have been forced to use an untried halves combination against the Storm.

Forward Dylan Napa was also placed on report for a crusher tackle on Souths utility Paul Carter.

The Roosters are already without prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves after he suffered a season-ending knee injury three weeks ago but have convincingly overcome Manly and Souths without him or Pearce in back-to-back matches to secure the club's third consecutive minor premiership under Robinson.

Statistics compiled by Champion Data help confirm why the Roosters are premiership favourites after winning seven of their 13 matches against other finals teams during the regular season and all 11 clashes with teams who finished outside the top eight.

In fact, the only team the Roosters haven't beaten so far this season are Cronulla, who scored an upset 20-12 win in round five at Allianz Stadium and triumphed 10-4 at Remondis Stadium in round 13.

Since then the Roosters have won 12 consecutive games to enter the finals as favourites to claim their second premiership in three years.

Brisbane and Cronulla have also won seven matches against opponents in the top eight, with the Sharks accounting for the Roosters and North Queensland twice, Canterbury, South Sydney and St George Illawarra once.

However, they have lost twice to Melbourne and been beaten by the Broncos and Dragons as well as Manly, Canberra, Gold Coast, Penrith and the Warriors.

The Broncos, who host third-placed North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium after finishing second, have beaten every other top-eight team once and lost to the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Dragons, Bulldogs and Storm.

After beating Brisbane 15-6 last Thursday, Melbourne boast the best record against other top-eight clubs with two wins over St George Illawarra and Cronulla and victories against the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Broncos.

Souths have not enjoyed wins against either the Sharks or Storm this season but have beaten the Dragons twice and split a game each with Brisbane, Canterbury, North Queensland and the Roosters.

St George Illawarra have the worst record against other top-eight teams, having recorded just four wins – against the Bulldogs, Roosters, Broncos and Sharks – and nine losses, including two against the Rabbitohs and Storm and one to each of the other five finals teams.

Canterbury have also won just four times against other top-eight teams, beating the Broncos, Dragons, Rabbitohs and Storm, and losing once to each of their finals rivals.

RECORD AGAINST OTHER TOP EIGHT TEAMS

Club              Wins        Losses

Roosters        7             6

Broncos         7             7

Cowboys        5             7

Sharks          7              4

Storm             8              4

Bulldogs        4              7

Rabbitohs      6              6

Dragons        4              9