Stewart faces charges of sexual intercourse without consent and aggravated assault with an act of indecency.

His lawyer, Ian Byrne, told Manly Local Court today his client would plead not guilty to both charges.

The alleged victim, aged 17, claimed she had been smoking a cigarette outside her home about 8pm on March 6 when Stewart, 24, assaulted her.

The Sea Eagles fullback, who was to have been one of the faces of the NRL's advertising campaign this year, had been celebrating Manly's season launch at the Wharf Bar before the alleged attack.

The alleged victim was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital after neighbours called police, and Stewart was questioned by detectives and released without charge while DNA samples were collected.

He was charged with sexual assault four days later, before the DNA results were returned.

In addition, an AVO was taken out against him, which prevented him from returning to his apartment because of its proximity to the victim's.

The NRL, which had to modify its advertising campaign at a cost of $1 million, fined Manly $100,000 over its boozy season opening and suspended Stewart for four games for drunken behaviour.

He returns to the team this weekend to play against the Wests Tigers at Brookvale Oval.

The Sea Eagles have yet to win a match this season.