The Victorian Liberals would survive a state by-election in the key seat held by embattled MP Geoff Shaw, a new poll shows.
The Frankston MP left the Liberal party earlier this year and became an independent after being charged with two dozen offences.
Mr Shaw holds the balance of power in the state's lower house and may have to leave parliament if he is convicted of fraud-related offences before the November 2014 state election.
A new poll has found the Liberals would retain the seat if a by-election were held before the election.
The Herald Sun/JWS Research poll released on Monday found a 2.3 per cent swing to the Liberals among Frankston voters, showing the party has avoided being damaged by Mr Shaw's alleged misuse of taxpayer-funding entitlements.
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The Liberals would therefore jump to a two-party preferred majority of 54.4 per cent in the electorate, according to the poll of 535 people.
A total of 64 per cent of voters in the electorate, however, have an unfavourable view of Mr Shaw, the poll found.
Premier Denis Napthine has vowed to never let Mr Shaw return to the parliamentary Liberal party, no matter what the outcome is of his legal proceedings.
Mr Shaw will face court again on October 21.
