Liberal star candidate Warren Mundine will face off against a former NSW Nationals cabinet minister in another skirmish between the coalition partners at this year's federal election.
Katrina Hodgkinson will go up against the high-profile indigenous businessman in the knife-edge seat, but the pair will also face challenges from Labor's Fiona Phillips and Liberal-turned-independent Grant Schultz.
Asked about the Nationals' low female representation in Canberra - just two of 22 parliamentarians are women - Ms Hodgkinson pointed to fellow candidates.
Sophie Wade will run for them in the former bellwether NSW seat of Eden-Monaro, taking on Labor MP Mike Kelly and the Liberals' Fiona Kotvojs.
In Victoria, social worker Anne Webster is the frontrunner to become the Nationals member for Mallee and replace disgraced MP Andrew Broad.
Independent MP Cathy McGowan has anointed Helen Haines to succeed her on the cross bench in Indi, but the Nationals are running former Wodonga mayor Mark Byatt, with Liberal Steve Martin also in the fight.
The agreement between the two parties allows for Liberals and Nationals to butt heads when a sitting member chooses not to run.
In Gilmore, Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis is retiring from the ultra-marginal seat, citing bullying and intimidation from within her party as a key reason.
While in parliament, Ms Hodgkinson voted against the government - of which she was a member - to oppose a ban on greyhound racing.
"I hope not to cross the floor in the future, but absolutely if I had to do it I would do it again," she told Sky News on Thursday.
"That's just part of being an MP. That's my mindset - the community always comes first."
The former NSW minister for primary industries and small business will campaign on mental health, aged care, veterans' affairs, disability and decreasing ice abuse.
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