The Liberal Party will not run candidates in South Australia's two upcoming by-elections as the party turns its attention to the looming federal poll.
The by-elections in Cheltenham and Enfield on February 9 have been forced by the resignations from state parliament of former Labor premier Jay Weatherill and former deputy premier John Rau.
Labor is expected to retain both seats but its job has got easier with the Liberal Party confirming on Thursday that it had decided against running candidates.
"The Liberal Party will instead focus on campaigning strongly in the federal election," the party's state director Sascha Meldrum said in a statement.
"It is vital that we continue to have federal and state Liberal governments working together to achieve a strong positive future for South Australia."
The Liberals hold four federal seats in SA with at least one of those, Boothby held by Nicolle Flint, considered at risk of falling to Labor.
Defence Minister Christopher Pyne holds the party's next most marginal seat but has a near six per cent buffer in Sturt.
In the Cheltenham by-election, Labor has selected SA Unions boss Joe Szakacs as its candidate and in Enfield is running lawyer Andrea Michaels.
Nominations for the two seats close on January 24.
