Can anyone explain what a directions-only hearing involves?

[Balood31]

I am pursuing a defamation claim. The defendant filed a Notice of Appearance but did not submit a Defence. As a result, I applied for default judgment due to the lack of a Defence, and it was granted. I subsequently applied for a damages hearing. However, I have since been informed that default judgment is not available in defamation cases. I now understand that a "directions only" hearing has been scheduled for September.

Can anyone explain what a directions-only hearing involves?

[Mal161]

So easy looking things up on Google these days........... The answer I found was as I expected ..... A directions hearing, also known as a case management hearing, is a court appearance where the judge provides instructions or "directions" for how the case should proceed before a full trial or hearing. It's a procedural step to organize the case and ensure both parties are prepared.