ACT Brumbies boss Michael Jones is set to address the Super Rugby team's biggest function of the year on Friday before walking across the road in Civic for a likely courtroom battle against the club's board members.
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Mr Jones is expected to return to the ACT Supreme Court on Friday and present new evidence in his case against the Brumbies' board, University of Canberra, its vice-chancellor Stephen Parker, the University of Canberra Union, Joe Roff and David Lamont.
It's the latest development in an ongoing backroom power struggle and the Brumbies' State of the Union lunch at QT hotel adds an extra layer of intrigue.
Mr Jones will be in the same room as several board members as he gives a speech to launch the function, which will be hosted by Samantha Armytage and has retired Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill as a guest speaker.
The tension will likely grow as the afternoon goes on with legal proceedings expected to follow just a short walk from the lunch, described as one of Canberra's "premier events".
The board decided to strip Mr Jones of his duties and asked him to hand over his keys to the Brumbies' building, laptop, car and cancelled his work credit card in the wake of an interview on ABC Radio's Grandstand.
Less than 24 hours later Mr Jones had taken the matter to court and gained an injunction against the decision.
He used the ACT's whistleblower legislation to gain the court's temporary protection, which prevents the board from standing him down.
But the Brumbies fought back a week later, taking the matter back to court to argue Mr Jones should never have been afforded whistleblower status.
Justice Richard Refshauge is not expected to make a ruling on Friday about whether the injunction should remain in place, but has been asked by Mr Jones' new counsel for an opportunity to present more evidence.
Canberra club rugby presidents have called for an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday to seek clarification from the board regarding its move to stand down Mr Jones and the KPMG report that has been the source of angst.
The KPMG report was commissioned by the ARU integrity unit to investigate transactions at the Brumbies between 2009 and 2013 relating to the sale of the club's Griffith headquarters and subsequent move to the University of Canberra.
The report was handed to the Australian Federal Police and is part of an ongoing investigation.
Both ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and university vice-chancellor Stephen Parker have made moves in the past week to distance themselves from the drama.
But Mr Jones will present new evidence of dealings between the parties and the case is set to drag on for at least another week.
Lawyers for the Brumbies last week accused Mr Jones of trying to entrench his position while putting the board at peril.
But club presidents want answers from the board and there could be major upheaval amongst the club's directors next week.
The extraordinary general meeting was called with a special resolution to dissolve the current board and a normal resolution to appoint a new board at the meeting at the Brumbies headquarters.
A chunk of the $11.375 million sale of the Brumbies' Griffith base was supposed to be put towards a trust fund for community rugby. The trust fund is yet to be set up and the proceeds of the sale have almost disappeared.
