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Peers are due to debate and vote on government plans to increase tuition fees in England from £3,290 to as much as £9,000 a year.
Government minister Lord Henley will propose two motions to raise the higher amount to £9,000 from September 2012, and raise the basic threshold up to £6,000 a year.
The Commons approved the proposals last week when MPs voted by 323 votes to 302, a government majority of 21, to increase the higher amount to £9,000 from 2012.
Labour has tabled a "fatal amendment" to the legislation designed to prevent the tuition fees increase in the Lords.
The coalition holds a 40-seat majority over Labour in the upper chamber, for the opposition to stand a chance of blocking the proposals, they need the support of Liberal Democrat rebels or crossbenchers.
Lib Dem higher education spokeswoman in the Lords, Baroness Sharp admitted she faced a "dilemma" over which way to vote, suggesting a sign of divisions among the party.
She told the Guardian: "I face a dilemma. I have a lot of reservations, and I am in the same position as many Liberal Democrat MPs. I have not decided how to vote."
Labour's leader in the Lords, Baroness Royall said: "Labour opposed the government's policy in the Commons last week, and Labour will oppose the government's policy in the Lords this week.
"Regrettably, we were not successful in the Commons last week in preventing the government pressing ahead with its proposals for draconian cuts in the funding of higher education and a consequent massive rise in students' tuition fees.
"We will have a tough fight in the Lords to prevent the government from going ahead with its plans - but we will fight to the last to do so."
Also in the upper chamber today, Labour peer Lord Soley will ask the government about access to Parliament by members during demonstrations.
The National Union of Students and University of London Union said they had no demonstrations planned for today.
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