A legal challenge against the Northern Territory's COVID-19 vaccination mandate could be heard a day before the Christmas Eve jab deadline.
Ray Phillips, Conan Hammet and John Anstess are fighting the order that requires most workers to be fully vaccinated by December 24.
The trio's legal team told the NT Supreme Court on Monday that Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie didn't have the legal power to make the directive.
It wants an expedited hearing for the matter on December 23 in a bid to save Mr Phillips and Mr Hammet from being sacked.
NT government lawyer Lachlan Peattie said the case was complicated and it would be difficult to accelerate the matter.
Evidence from experts, such as epidemiologists and virologists, was likely to be required and constitutional issues could arise.
The plaintiffs also hadn't provided much information about the other grounds for their case and it should be heard next year, Mr Peattie said.
The court also heard Mr Phillips and Mr Hammet hadn't had their first jab and it wouldn't be possible for them to be fully vaccinated by the deadline so there was no need for an expedited hearing.
The men's lawyer, Danial Kelly, agreed more time would be needed to properly prepare and proposed a simplified pre-Christmas hearing over the chief health officer's legal authority to make the directive.
He also said that if the men lost it was possible they may not proceed any further with the case.
Justice Sonia Brownhill urged the parties to meet so the full details about the case could be shared.
She also ordered the matter return to court on Wednesday to further discuss if a December 23 hearing was possible.
