Peni copped a fourth suspension in 13 months when he faced an ACT rugby judiciary on Monday night after being sent off in his comeback game last weekend.

He will be eligible to return on August 11, which means the Brumbies flyer won't suit up to take on the Wellington Hurricanes when their Super Rugby campaigns resume at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

It is a frustrating blow for Peni, who has been rubbed out for a lifting tackle while playing for Wests in the John I Dent Cup - Canberra's club rugby competition - last Saturday.

The tackle halted his comeback from another lengthy suspension in less than 18 minutes.

Now Peni's hopes of playing for the Brumbies again this season have been left in tatters with just three games left in the Super Rugby season and the ACT's finals run in danger of ending.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has Andy Muirhead, Lausii Taliauli and James Dargaville at his disposal for the clash against the Hurricanes.

Muirhead has played eight games this season, while Taliauli has played five to Dargaville's three. Peni has made seven appearances but his last came in April.

Peni's ban is another headache for McKellar to contend with as he sweats on the fitness of star forwards Allan Alaalatoa and co-captain Sam Carter.

Alaalatoa will have to prove his fitness on the training track this week, while Carter has been grappling with a back complaint.

Peni is no stranger to the judiciary this year. The 24-year-old was penalised and given a red card for the tackle in his first game back since being slapped with a seven-week ban for a high tackle in Super Rugby.

The rugby league convert was hit with a hefty ban for his high tackle on Canterbury Crusaders star Israel Dagg in April which ultimately shattered his hopes of forcing his way into the Wallabies squad.

Peni spent his two-month Super Rugby suspension changing his tackling technique to suit rugby union in a bid to avoid future suspensions, but the work has come to no avail.

Wests officials spent their Sunday gathering evidence to help Peni off his latest charge. One other player has been banned for a lifting tackle in the John I Dent Cup this season, with Queanbeyan's Lewis Bozzato serving a six-week suspension.

The Brumbies' finals hopes are hanging by a thread with McKellar's side needing to beat the Hurricanes, the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton and the Waratahs in Sydney, and then rely on other results to go their way.

A two-game winning streak has been interrupted by a mid-year break for Australia's Test series against Ireland and the Brumbies will need to avoid a slow start against the New Zealand conference's second-placed side.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 17

June 30: ACT Brumbies v Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.