With a decision expected within the next two days, the opposition is making a last-ditch appeal to the three independents for their support in forming a minority government.
It is maintaining its economic credentials are up to scratch, despite a damning Treasury analysis that effectively cost it the support of Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie.
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Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne denied the coalition, and particularly Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, had taken a hammering on the credibility stakes.
"The leader has to lead the party across all the portfolios - there at least over 30 portfolios," Mr Pyne told Network Ten on Sunday.
"It's not the job of the leader of the opposition to know every single line item of the budget.
"I bet (Prime Minister Julia Gillard) doesn't know every line item."
The coalition has also come under attack following Mr Abbott's claim that its policies had been carefully modelled by the University of Canberra-affiliated NATSEM.
The economic body has since claimed it never spoke to the coalition.
Mr Pyne maintained that if Mr Abbott said it, "well, it must be true".
Mr Abbott has pressed his case to the three independents in an open letter, published on Sunday, telling them that siding with Labor will be in defiance of their rural electorates.
Instead, he is offering them to form the most country-oriented national government since World War II.
But Mr Pyne could not rule out a struggle in pushing through some of the coalition's more contentious policies, such as its broadband and asylum seekers plans, even if the independents are won over.
"The independents don't hate the coalition's broadband policy, they just don't think it's as generous," Mr Pyne said.
"Who knows what they'll end up doing."
He said Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter also disagreed with Labor on various issues.
Mr Wilkie, who's received a mixed response in his Hobart electorate of Denison after choosing Labor, said debate was bound to happen regardless of who forms the next government.
When it came to border protection, he said: "Some of these points of detail are going to be very difficult for the next government to get through the government."
