Lawyers for an SBS reporter sacked over a series of tweets will argue his dismissal was unlawful and occurred only after Malcolm Turnbull personally intervened in the case.

Lawyers for Scott McIntyre - who has previously canvassed his intention to sue the broadcaster - say he he has suffered loss of income, damage to reputation, humiliation, distress and anxiety as a result of his high-profile sacking.

Sacked SBS soccer presenter and journalist Scott McIntyre.

McIntyre posted a series of tweets in April in which he referred to some Australians commemorating Anzac Day as "poorly-read, largely white, nationalist drinker and gamblers." He also said the "largest single-day terrorist attacks in history" had been committed by Australia and its allies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Documents filed in the federal court by Josh Bornstein from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers claim SBS management encouraged McIntyre to only "consider" apologising for the tweets, but then sacked him after a late-night phone call from the then communications minister Malcolm Turnbull.