Morrisons will state its case on why it should be allowed to buy the Safeway chain at a high-profile public meeting this week.

So far the Bradford-based company has refused to confirm whether it will be chairman Sir Ken Morrison or another of the company's senior executives putting forward arguments in its favour at the special Competition Commission meeting.

But, with the hearing widely expected to attract hundreds of people and to be the most high-profile ever held by the Commission, the company is likely to see it as an important step in its bid for Safeway.

It is being staged to ensure that shoppers and consumer groups get a chance to air their views on the supermarket shake-up.

But bid rivals Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda will also field executives to speak in their favour at the hearing, being held at Haberdashers Hall, West Smithfield, in the City of London on Wednesday morning.

"The four bidders will come to an open meeting to speak and give their views about local competition issues, national issues and issues of buyer power," said a spokesman for the Commission.

The only bidder who will not appear at the meeting is BHS billionaire Philip Green as his offer was not referred to the Competition Commission by Trade Secretary Patrician Hewitt.

Sir Derek Morris, chairman of the Commission and the inquiry, is keen to ensure that he hears the views of as wide a range of interested parties as possible.

"I want us to receive relevant evidence to the fullest extent and for there to be a wide-ranging and focused discussion. I believe the open meeting will enable us to make significant progress on a spectrum of issues as a complement to the process of confidential meetings," he said.

Morrisons was disappointed that its £2.6 billion share and cash offer - the only firm bid put forward for Safeway - was referred to the Commission, a view echoed by the Consumers' Association which believes the Morrisons bid is positive for shoppers and does not need to be investigated.

"A fourth aggressive player in the market would strengthen consumer choice and ensure that consumers have a competitive a market as possible," a spokesman for the association said.

"Potential negatives with the Morrisons bid are small and could be dealt with by selling a limited number of stores in its regional stronghold of the north east of England."

The association believes a successful bid by Tesco, Sainsbury's or Asda - the three big supermarket players at present - would be at the expense of a fourth major player in the UK market.

"If one of the existing big three national players is successful this could limit competition and potentially be detrimental to the consumer."