Eads (right), with co-star Fox, is accused of asking for a raise above his contract

Eads, who plays Nick Stokes in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, said he hoped the "big misunderstanding" would be resolved by the end of the week.

"I look forward to going back," he told the Television Critics Association.

Eads and co-star Jorja Fox were sacked after failing to show up for the start of production on the fifth season.

The actors starring in the fifth season of CSI are paid $100,000 (�54,400) an episode. Around 24 episodes are usually produced each year.

The CBS network said the pair had both asked for raises well above their contracts.

'I overslept'

Eads, who stars in a new TV movie about 1970s stuntman Evil Knievel, said: "CBS think it's about money and it's not.

"I overslept. I woke up white as a sheet three-and-a-half hours after I was supposed to be on the set."

I want all this to work out. CSI is a part of who I am George Eads

Eads said he called in to the show to say he would be he was delayed, but said he was told "don't bother".

"It's like I'm the quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys and I overslept the first day of practice," the actor said.

"I want all this to work out. CSI is a part of who I am," Eads said.

Speaking to the association on Sunday, CBS chief Leslie Moonves defended the sacking, saying it was a fair decision.

"There comes a point where we feel a contract is a contract. We all have to look out for the future of the network television business," he said.