Sydney Roosters player Shaun Kenny-Dowall is to stand trial in three weeks for 11 alleged domestic violence offences against Jessica Peris, including assault causing actual bodily harm, common assault and stalking.

Kenny-Dowall was not required to appear in Sydney’s Downing Street local court while the trial date was set, but was represented by his lawyer Chris Murphy.

Mr Murphy told the court the defence had been served with thousands of text messages sent between the player and his accuser, former partner Jessica Peris.

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Mr Murphy said Ms Peris — the daughter of Olympian-turned-senator Nova Peris — and the player, appeared to conduct their relationship predominantly through text message.

“We have been served with several thousand text messages — they seem to have lived more by text messages than together,” Mr Murphy said.

“There’s not one single text message in which Ms Peris has complained of domestic violence.”

He requested police work with him to whittle the material down before the trial started for three days from February 24.

Documents filed with the court show Kenny-Dowall allegedly assaulted Ms Peris on seven separate occasions at Coogee and Maroubra between October 2014 and June 2015.

He also allegedly destroyed her mobile phone, used his phone to menace or harass her in May last year and stalked or intimidated her in June.

Outside the court, Mr Murphy said he was confident his client would beat the charges.

Kenny-Dowall is still part of Roosters squad and has been named in their side to play in the Auckland Nines this weekend.