Kidman Resources Ltd. will "vigorously defend" its ownership of lithium rights over its Mount Holland gold property in Western Australia, the company said May 29 ahead of a trial over the disputed rights brought forward by Marindi Metals Ltd.

The trial is set to determine whether the two parties had an agreement relating to the lithium rights after Marindi launched a legal battle in November 2016, seeking declaratory relief that it has a binding deal with Kidman.

Kidman expects the trial to run for the next three or four days and reiterated that Marindi's claim is opportunistic.

In January, the Supreme Court of Western Australia granted Kidman's request to separate any determination of damages in the proceedings.