Raymond Tony Caban did not appear in Tamworth Local Court on Thursday when his case was re-listed by magistrate Julie Soars.

He's already pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing reckless grievous bodily harm (GBH) in Willow Tree on November 8, and the case had been set down for a three-hour hearing on April 8.

The court heard Caban remains bail refused in custody in Cessnock Correctional Centre.

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But Ms Soars re-listed the matter to see if the hearing was going ahead, because another custody matter that day had been listed.

Solicitor Garry Johnston has taken over the case and told the court "the police prosecutor and myself have had a discussion this morning".

"It's likely to be resolved," he said.

"Another date is fine."

The court heard one of the investigating officers was unavailable at the time because they had a trial listed in Sydney throughout April, police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Baillie said.

"He is unlikely to be required," Mr Johnston said.

Mr Johnston said the hearing centred on an "issue [that] is a very narrow one".

"Whether the injury gets to GBH," he said.

Ms Soars said she could not see "how the officers's statement is going to prove that [issue] because he's not an expert", and said the statement could be tendered.

The court was told last month the GBH definition, and the issue of self-defence could be raised at hearing.

Ms Soars re-listed the hearing for a new date in April, so there was "no competition between two in custody matters", she said.

Detectives allege a 28-year-old man was hit in the face and knocked unconscious between 12.15am and 1.10am on November 8 at Willow Tree.

It's the police case Caban, 28, was drinking with a group at a Willow Tree home when he allegedly turned on the victim and struck him in the face.

The 28-year-old victim was rushed to Quirindi hospital before being transported in a critical condition to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital by the region's Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

He has since been released. It's the police case that the pair are known to one another.