Cardinal George Pell's historical sexual offence case returns to court

Cardinal George Pell's legal team will return to court to finalise administrative matters, before a hearing that will determine if he stands trial on historical sexual offence charges.

Australia's most senior Catholic denies the charges and is not expected to attend today's brief mention in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

The court will receive a further update on the provision of documents Pell's lawyers sought from the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan, who wrote a book about the cardinal.

Pell, the highest-ranking Catholic official to be charged with sexual abuse, is due to face a four-week committal hearing beginning on March 5.

A magistrate will then decide if the 76-year-old stands trial in the Victorian County Court over the charges, involving multiple complainants.

The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop and Ballarat priest has taken leave from his position as Vatican treasurer to fight the charges.