Sussan Ley is likely to hold onto her job as opposition leader for at least another week as conservative agitators struggle to coalesce around a single candidate.
Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor and backbencher Andrew Hastie are widely seen as the two most likely replacements for Ms Ley, whose critics say she has presided over a steady slide in the opinion polls and failed to lead properly.
But neither man appears willing to cede ground, despite secret talks at a home in Melbourne’s suburbs on Thursday to try and thrash out a compromise.
Ms Ley’s supporters believe she has the numbers to retain the leadership for now, because the conservative vote will be divided while both MPs remain in the race.
Mr Taylor ran unsuccessfully against Ms Ley for the party leadership after the coalition’s horror federal election result in May.
Backers of Mr Hastie, a former SAS soldier who served as opposition home affairs spokesman until he moved to the back bench to speak more freely about immigration issues, have been loudly claiming he has the numbers to win.
Ms Ley’s camp hotly disputes that suggestion.
Parliament returns next week, when tensions within the Liberals are expected to flare.
While Mr Hastie’s side had been hoping to roll the opposition leader on Monday or Tuesday, the ongoing split over who should challenge for the job appears likely to delay any spill.
Sources confirmed to AAP a vote was unlikely next week – although if a consensus candidate were to be agreed upon, the challenge could move quickly.
Liberal backbencher Ben Small added to the leadership speculation by nailing his colours to the mast on Thursday, declaring his support for Mr Hastie.
“Australia does best when it has a good government and a strong opposition. Presently, we have neither,” he told AAP.
“Generational change is key to reconnecting to voters who have simply stopped listening to the Liberal Party, but I need to be clear – changing salespeople alone does not help.
“The Liberal Party needs to speak clearly again, without being afraid of what we believe in.
“I have come to the deeply considered view that Andrew Hastie is the right person to lead the Liberal Party, should an opportunity to lead arise.”
Australian Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national newswire and has been delivering accurate, reliable and fast news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We keep Australia informed.
