Liberal senators Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash will be called to give evidence at Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial.

Lehrmann is standing trial at the ACT Supreme Court accused of sexually assaulting former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins.

He has pleaded not guilty and denies any sexual interaction took place.

Ms Higgins is expected to return to the witness box on Friday and complete her evidence after being unavailable earlier in the week.

The trial has continued in her absence with the Crown calling other witnesses.

When Ms Higgins returns on Friday she will face continued cross-examination by Lehrmann’s defence lawyer Steven Whybrow.

Senators Reynolds and Cash are expected to be in the witness box early next week before the Crown closes its case.

Former Liberal minister Steven Ciobo is no longer expected to give evidence.

The trial had originally been set with a four to six-week duration timeline.

But during the second week the court heard proceedings were further ahead of schedule than expected.

The prosecution initially listed 52 witnesses to be called during proceedings, but a revised list shows 20 are no longer required.

The court has prevented publication of any evidence from other witnesses until after Ms Higgins has completed her evidence.

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