Jack de Belin, Callan Sinclair in court

NRL player Jack de Belin has attended a Sydney court ahead of his trial on rape charges stemming from an encounter with a woman in December 2018.

De Belin, 30, and co-accused Callan Sinclair, 23, have both pleaded not guilty to five charges of aggravated sexual assault.

The trial for the St George Illawarra forward and Sinclair over the events in Wollongong is expected to begin this week in the Downing Centre District Court.