Former New South Wales Labor ministers Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald have pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption that arose out of investigations by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Both Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald have been ordered to stand trial on the separate charges.

Obeid pleaded not guilty to accusations that he gave inducements to a senior public servant in return for favourable leases for family businesses operating at Circular Quay in 2007.

Macdonald is charged with corruptly gifting an exploration licence to Doyles Creek Mining without a proper tender process, while he was minister for resources.

The company's then chairman - former union official John Maitland - also has been charged and has pleaded not guilty.

All three men had to stand in Supreme Court room 13A, waiting for their cases to be called, because the courtroom was packed.

Obeid's trial has been set down for four weeks from October 12 in the Supreme Court in Sydney before Justice Peter Johnson.

About 12 witnesses are expected to appear for the prosecution.

Justice Johnson also set the matter for a mention on May 22, although he excused Obeid from appearing on that date.

Obeid has indicated he will seek a temporary stay on his trial because of the "enormous pre-trial publicity".

The trial of Macdonald and Maitland has been set down for eight weeks in March 2016.

Prosecutors plan to call 30 witnesses to give evidence against the pair, and Justice Johnson set the matter down for mention again on July 6.

Counsel for Macdonald told the court he will also seek a stay on his trial.

The court was also told Macdonald is having trouble funding a legal team because he is only on a parliamentary pension.