Two Victorian police officers will take their fight against a public hearing into allegations of misconduct against them to the High Court in Canberra today.

The Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) wants to examine the pair over allegations that arose after the arrest of a 51-year-old, intoxicated and mentally ill woman in Ballarat in January last year.

The police were accused of kicking and stomping on the woman, who was allegedly left semi-naked on the ground while handcuffed.

There were further allegations she was forcibly strip searched while male officers were present.

The IBAC began pursuing the matter when one of its officers viewed CCTV footage of the alleged incident.

The commission has wide investigation powers, including abrogating the privilege against self-incrimination.

The common law privilege against self-incrimination entitles a person to refuse to answer questions, if the answers might incriminate them.

The lawyers for the two officers are questioning the validity of the commission's power to override this privilege.

They will tell the High Court the removal of protection against self-incrimination alters the balance in the criminal justice system and is at odds with a fundamental legal principle.

The High Court will be asked to decide if the commission has the power to examine someone who may later be charged with a criminal offence about their alleged crime.

There have been two unsuccessful court appeals already.

The case is part of a wider investigation into complaints against police in Ballarat.

The officers were initially stood down, but have been allowed to return to work after an internal investigation cleared them of any criminal offences.