Federal MP for Hughes, Craig Kelly, is expected to have a fight on his hands to retain Liberal Party preselection when nominations close on Friday afternoon.
Sutherland Shire councillor and vice-president of the NSW division of the Liberal Party, Kent Johns, is expected to make a second attempt to displace Mr Kelly.
Two years ago, Mr Johns was poised to nominate until pressure was applied by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Johns declined to comment on Friday on the present preselection.
Mr Kelly said, “I will be renominating and I will be standing on my record and I look forward to presenting myself to the electors in the seat of Hughes for another three-year term”.
Mr Kelly followed Danna Vale into the seat of Hughes in 2010 and has successfully contested three elections.
Mr Johns is a former mayor and owns a water infrastructure business in the shire.
The two men are from opposing factions.
Mr Kelly an arch conservative and ally of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, while Mr Johns is a member of the moderates.
Their contest before the 2016 preselection was intense.
Mr Johns withdrew after Mr Turnbull wrote to the Liberal Party executive strongly recommending Mr Kelly be re-endorsed.
Mr Turnbull’s letter said Mr Kelly’s electoral results were “outstanding,” he had “a fine reputation for standing up for his local constituents and was unafraid of taking on controversial issues”.
Mr Kelly is again being assisted by radio presenter Alan Jones, who savaged Mr Johns in 2016 and resumed the attack in an interview with Mr Kelly on Friday.