Bid to bring Manus men to Australia

Lawyers acting for hundreds of asylum seekers at the Manus Island detention centre are launching a High Court bid that could result in their transfer to Australia.

Solicitor Matthew Byrne told AAP the legal team was also seeking an urgent injunction to prevent their 757 male clients being sent to Nauru after Papua New Guinea closes the centre to abide by a domestic court ruling.

The Australian case will argue there had been violations of human rights, and seek compensation for the men.

A spokesman for the High Court said the legal action revived an existing case.

The matter has not yet been listed.

Officials from Australia and PNG are still working on a plan to deal with the centre's closure and the fate of asylum seekers there.