Eight people will battle it out next week for the right to be the Liberal party candidate at the upcoming Wentworth by-election.
Businessman Andrew Bragg - who's got the backing of former prime minister and outgoing MP Malcolm Turnbull - remains the favourite to win the preselection contest on September 13.
AAP understands he'll have the support of the big branches in the eastern suburbs electorate, which are controlled by moderates.
It's likely his biggest threat will come in the form of Mary-Lou Jarvis, party sources have told AAP.
The Woollahra councillor - who's president of the NSW Liberal Women's Council - joined the contest late in the piece but has overtaken Peter King and David Sharma as the person tipped to most trouble Mr Bragg.
Mr King is a former member for Wentworth - having lost preselection to Mr Turnbull in 2004 - while Mr Sharma is Australia's former ambassador to Israel.
The other candidates vying for preselection are local surgeon Michael Feneley, digital communications specialist Carrington Brigham, Sydney East Business Chamber chair Katherine O'Regan and another Woollahra councillor in Richard Shields.
About 210 selectors from Wentworth branches will be involved in the Liberal preselection.
Any candidate who receives less than five per cent of the vote next Thursday evening will be eliminated from any further rounds. The first person to receive more than 50 per cent of the vote is preselected.
Tim Murray is Labor's candidate for the Wentworth by-election - expected to be held sometime in October - while City of Sydney councillor Kerryn Phelps is considering whether to stand as an independent.
