Three men accused of planning an Islamic State-inspired terror attack in Melbourne on Christmas Day won't face trial until mid 2018.
Hamza Abbas, 22, Ahmed Mohamed, 24 and Abdullah Chaarani, 26, appeared before the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday via video link for a directions hearing.
The trio was last week ordered to stand trial on one charge each of preparing or planning a terrorist act following a committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
It's alleged the men were days away from carrying out a terror plot targeting Flinders Street Station, Federation Square and St Paul's Cathedral when they were arrested on December 22, 2016.
Prosecutors on Tuesday say their trial - which is listed to begin in July 2018 - will take between eight and nine weeks.
Evidence gathered from listening devices and surveillance will form a large part of the prosecution case against the men.
Counsel for Abbas say they may seek a separate trial for their client.
"There may be an application for separate trials," defence barrister Amelia Beech told Justice Lex Lasry.
All three men have been in custody since they were arrested during counter-terrorism raids across Melbourne's north in December.
They are accused of planning to use an improvised explosive device and other weapons to target Melbourne landmarks on Christmas Day.
The offence of planning or preparing for a terrorist act carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
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