Dr Stephen Ruff, an orthopaedic surgeon and father of five, has emerged as the key challenger to steal the seat of North Sydney from the Liberals.
Dr Ruff is running as an independent after the seat became vacant following the sudden resignation of Joe Hockey, who held the seat for almost 20 years.
“We're there with a chance… a big chance,” he said.
With no Labor candidate standing, Dr Ruff said he was hoping to capitalise by luring voters disenfranchised with the major parties.
His main opponent is Trent Zimmerman, whose pre-selection by the Liberals caused some controversy and left many Liberal party members upset.
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“The John Howard electoral reforms to bring democracy to the branch were ignored, and a party hack's been parachuted in to a so-called safe seat," Dr Ruff said.
"The word we're getting is that the population is not happy with that."
The independent candidate also has some key supporters who will prove important to the success of his campaign.
Fellow surgeon and Chinese-speaker Dr Shyan Goh has joined Dr Ruff’s team, in an attempt to lure Chinese voters.
At least 10 per cent of people in the leafy electorate on Sydney’s upper north shore speak Chinese.
Dr Goh said securing those votes required a unique approach.
“The Chinese has always been involved in the perception that it's Labor versus Liberal and they are very fixed on that perception,” Dr Goh said.
In an effort to convince the Chinese voters to consider electing an independent, the campaign team has taken out ads in Chinese newspapers and provided translated pamphlets.
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But Dr Goh said it was hard work.
“It can be difficult but we are confident in this election that we will get a lot of them to change their mind about how their local MP should look after them,” he added.
Dr Ruff also has the endorsement of well-loved local Ted Mack, who held the seat as an independent before Mr Hockey.
Dr Ruff described Mr Mack’s support as invaluable.
“We wouldn't get there without it. I'm not sure what percentage he pulls but it will be significant… because of the respect people have for him,” he said.
Dr Ruff said the main issues for the electorate included the proposed sale of Royal North Shore Hospital land and the infrastructure needs arising from rapid development in the area.
The electorate has a long history of being a safe conservative seat, but Dr Ruff said going after those conservative voters would be key, if he had any chance of winning.
“(The Liberal Party) have 60 per cent of the primary vote," he said.
"Anyone that gets more than 50 per cent of the primary vote wins the election. So we can't win it unless we attract a significant number of liberal voters."
A total of 13 candidates will stand for the seat when the poll takes place on December 5.
