De Belin has pleaded not guilty, along with co-accused Callan Sinclair, over allegations he sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman at a Wollongong unit in December 2018.

His trial before Judge Andrew Haesler is expected to last a fortnight.

De Belin was stood down by the NRL after he was charged more than 12 months ago.

His case was a major driver in NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and then ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie introducing the game's "no-fault" stand-down policy.

De Belin became the first player to be sidelined under the hardline rule which allows the game to stand aside players facing serious criminal charges.

At the time, he had earned a reputation as one of the game's premier back-rowers, having made his NSW State of Origin debut in 2018 and was being touted as a future Australian representative.

In May 2019, his Federal Court challenge against the NRL and ARL Commission was dismissed by Justice Melissa Perry.

De Belin, 28, has been allowed to train with his teammates while he awaits trial.

If found not guilty, he will likely be allowed to return to the field in time for the Dragons' NRL pre-season trial against Newcastle in Maitland on February 22.

Australian Associated Press