Air-conditioner blanking plate

My Air-conditioner blanking plate (the one with the cougar on in the centre of the dash) needs removing.
Can you do this from the front or do you need to get behind it?
I don’t want to damage it by trying to prise it out!

I think the dash has to come out. Here’s the back side of the plate:

That dark metal piece that’s horizontal in the picture clamps the blanking plate to a flange around the opening in the dash pad.

Thank you