David Pecker, the former head of the National Enquirer, is reportedly expected to be the first witness called in former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in Manhattan.

Pecker will be asked about payments made to kill any coverage of an alleged affair Trump had with adult film star Stormy Daniels, the New York Times reported citing a source.

The accounting of those payments is the basis for the prosecution's case against Trump.

Other prosecution witnesses expected to be called are former press aid Hope Hicks, Trump's former "fixer" Michael Cohen and Daniels.

It's unclear if the defense would call on Trump to testify, which would allow the prosecution to cross-examine him. Prosecutors will argue that the payments to Daniels shortly before the 2016 election were intended to hide the information about her from voters.

The newly chosen jury is set to hear opening statements from prosecutors and defense lawyers  Monday morning.

Trump is charged with 34 felonies for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up the payments to Daniels.  He could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

The former president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the case.

A recent poll finds that just 35 percent of U.S. adults say Trump did something illegal in the case.