NRL star Greg Bird faces a three-day hearing in April next year over an alleged assault on his girlfriend which left her with a fractured eye socket.

Bird, 24, allegedly glassed Kate Milligan in the face at his Cronulla apartment in August.

The Kangaroos, NSW Origin and Cronulla five-eighth was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The charge was downgraded to reckless wounding in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, before Magistrate Jane Culver.

The rugby league international also faces other charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and two charges of lying to police.

Police allege Bird attempted to deceive them when he claimed his flatmate Brent Watson was responsible for his American girlfriend's injuries.

As he left court on Thursday, Bird told a journalist "don't touch me" when her microphone brushed against his shoulder.

When asked if he had enjoyed a recent trip to the United States, where Milligan hails from, he replied: "Had a ball mate."

An apprehended violence order against Bird which prevents him from contacting Ms Milligan, 24, is still in place.

A three-day hearing into the matter is set to start on April 27 in the Downing Centre Local Court.

The prosecution says it will call 17 witnesses in the case, while the defence will call six.

A separate case of common assault against Bird was also heard on Thursday at Sutherland Local Court.

He was excused from attending and the matter was adjourned for a hearing on March 13 next year at the same location.

Bird's career is in limbo pending the outcome of his legal cases.

He is still contracted to the Cronulla Sharks NRL club but was stood down from playing after the alleged assault on his girlfriend.

Bird missed the NRL final series and also the current World Cup, which concludes on Saturday night with the Kangaroos playing New Zealand in the final.

He was Australia's five-eighth in the Kangaroos' last Test before the World Cup, the Centenary Test match against New Zealand in May.

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