FIREPLACE OPENING NOT BIG ENOUGH

[kimsissons]

Hi all
I am putting in a wood burning stove. I need to make the opening bigger and I am going to put in a new lintel.
But the clay liner is being held up by bricks . I need to remove this piece of liner to get the height and put in the register plate.
Will the rest of the liner drop or will it stay in place?
can you help?
thanks kim.

[welsh brickie]

In my expierence the mortar grips the liner,so you should be ok