CAMERAS will be allowed to televise opening submissions in the Federal Court trial sparked by the Essendon supplements scandal.
Essendon and suspended coach James Hird are taking legal action against the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, challenging the legality of its joint investigation with the league.
In a pre-trial email to all parties the judge's executive assistant confirms opening submissions will be televised but the rest of the trial will not be.
"The opening oral submissions will be televised in the same fashion as occurred at the directions hearing on 27 June 2014," the email said.
"The rest of the hearing will not be televised."
While the 34 current and former Essendon players who have received show-cause notices are not parties to the case, and remain anonymous, they are expected to have legal representation in court.
The players' lawyers will be given the opportunity to address the court during opening and closing submissions.
The trial before Justice John Middleton is slated to begin on Monday, August 11 at 10.15am.
It is expected to last about three days, although the judge may take several weeks to deliver his ruling.
Lawyers for Hird and Essendon have expressed concerns the trial could drag on beyond the expected three-day timeframe, but the judge still seemed comfortable with the time allotted.
"His Honour is still of the view that the issues in the proceedings seem relatively confined," the email read.
"His Honour currently has Full Court commitments in Brisbane on 14 and 15 August 2014."
Having returned to Melbourne from his study trip to France, Hird is expected to attend the trial.
Essendon chairman Paul Little has been in court for each day of pre-trial hearings.
