But Ms Gu's fate appears to have been sealed with analysts and diplomats predicting that the trial could even take less than one day with the verdict likely to be announced immediately afterwards.
Dali L. Yang, an expert in Chinese politics from the University of Chicago, said Ms Gu's trial was likely to be over almost before it began.
"I was thinking [it would be over] in one morning," he said.
"When the court decides to bring the case forward usually they have already set the verdict. In many ways it is more like a formality."
A diplomatic source echoed Mr Yang's sentiments, telling the Telegraph it could be over "within a day".
Access to Hefei Intermediate People's Court is likely to be carefully managed by authorities who are keen to minimise media coverage of the case.
But the Foreign Office has confirmed that two officials will be given access to the trial "in a consular capacity". A spokesman for the Foreign Office in Beijing refused to comment on whether relatives of Mr Heywood would attend.
Prof. Yang said the trial was intended "to tell the British side that justice has been done" and said he expected the verdict to be announced almost immediately.
"Usually the prosecution would happen and the verdict would be issued some days later. [But] my hunch is that the prosecution will not last very long and [that this] will be confined to a criminal case."
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