The federal government is playing down a possible change in political winds as Labor loses its grip in South Australia and Tasmania.
They head to the polls on Saturday, with pundits suggesting Labor will struggle to retain government against a rejuvenated opposition in both states.
Federal Labor frontbencher Stephen Smith conceded the elections will be difficult.
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"It's always tough when you're trying to go from term three to term four," he told ABC Radio on Friday.
"We expect they will both go down to the wire."
But it was no reflection on the federal government should local Labor get the boot.
"Australians have always made a difference between their judgements about state and federal," Mr Smith said.
"When people talk about political shifts or momentum, I have have a very strong memory that when John Howard was in office for a long period of time, Labor states occupied the terrain almost universally."
