The LNP is in "prime position" to snare victory in a Queensland by-election, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls says.
With more than 81 per cent of the votes counted in the Toowoomba South contest, the LNP candidate, banker David Janetzki, has 46.37 per cent of first preference votes.
The figures so far were enough to leave the party "quietly confident" of winning, Mr Nicholls said, swatting away a speculated link between a swing against the LNP and his leadership.
"But it does look on the figures that we've seen so far that we are in the prime position," Mr Nicholls said on Sunday.
Mr Janetzki is also expected to do well from pre-poll and postal votes, putting him on track to fend off independent former mayor Di Thorley.
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Ms Thornley had secured 35.1 per cent of first preference votes as of noon on Sunday.
On his Facebook page, Mr Janetzki said the LNP was confident it would retain the seat but wouldn't know for sure until preferences were counted in coming days.
Labor didn't run a candidate in the seat, which has been in either LNP hands or its parent party the Nationals since 1974.
Mr Janetzki's likely win will ensure the LNP opposition remains level with the state's Labor government at 42 seats each in the state's 89-seat hung parliament.
A Thorley victory would have offered Labor a slight edge, while increasing the powerful crossbench to six MPs.
