[By-elections 28 July] Rebekha Sharkie likely to reclaim Mayo: poll

Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie looks likely to reclaim the federal seat of Mayo in Saturday's by-election, fighting off a challenge from high-profile Liberal candidate Georgina Downer.

Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie is the favourite to regain the SA seat of Mayo. Source: AAP

A Galaxy poll of 540 voters in the South Australian seat shows a 59-41 lead for Ms Sharkie on a two-party preferred basis.

The poll, commissioned by The Advertiser, also found 47 per cent primary support for Ms Sharkie compared to 35 per cent for Ms Downer.

Labor has nine per cent of the primary vote, and the Greens two per cent.

The figures are more positive for Ms Sharkie than the 2016 election result, when she secured 55 per cent of the two-party preferred vote and 34.9 per cent of the primary.

Ms Sharkie won Mayo as a Nick Xenophon Team candidate before she was forced to resign over dual citizenship, and is recontesting the by-election for Centre Alliance.

Ms Downer, who has had a swathe of high-profile Liberals on the hustings with her, is seeking to follow in the footsteps of father Alexander, who held Mayo from 1984 to 2008.