Lawrence Springborg's third stint as Queensland opposition leader is under grave threat with both his challengers confident they can seize his job.
Former treasurer Tim Nicholls has joined Tim Mander in a three-way challenge for the Liberal National Party leadership if a spill motion is successful in Friday's party room meeting.
Mr Springborg, who led the conservative parties to three election defeats last decade, has confirmed he will recontest the leadership if there is a spill.
Mr Nicholls was the only one to speak publicly on Thursday, with both Mr Springborg and Mr Mander instead quietly working the phones to try to shore up support from colleagues.
Mr Nicholls, currently the opposition's infrastructure spokesman, insisted he reluctantly put his hand up, having been approached by colleagues, party members and "other supporters".
"I've been grateful to receive the support of a number of colleagues who I've been in contact with who have indicated to me that they would be prepared to support me," Mr Nicholls said on Thursday, just hours after he'd publicly declared his intentions.
Mr Nicholls, the architect behind the former Newman government's unpopular privatisation plans, has ruled out pursuing asset sales again if he becomes opposition leader.
He hinted at wanting Nanango MP Deb Frecklington to serve as his deputy, but said that was a matter for her.
While careful not to criticise his rivals, Mr Nicholls did insist Mr Mander's razor-thin margin of 1.8 per cent in Everton could scare off potential supporters.
That margin will dwindle even further after Labor last month forced a reintroduction of compulsory preferential voting.
"That will be something for the members to consider, I'm sure it will play on their minds," said Mr Nicholls, who enjoys a safe 7.2 per cent margin in his own seat.
"I simply say that I am able to offer my colleagues the ability to campaign from a secure base in Clayfield."
Mr Mander avoided media on Thursday, after announcing his intentions on Wednesday night and saying he would provide the "fresh approach" the LNP needs.
The former NRL referee was immediately forced to defend his decision to contest the leadership from such a marginal seat, insisting the LNP wouldn't form government if he lost Everton - a similar line to the one former Premier Campbell Newman used before last year's election defeat.
"That was, mathematically, not right when (Mr Newman) said that," he said.
"We've got to gain votes, not lose them (to win government)."
Mr Mander said the LNP needed someone who was "bold and innovative".
"I do know that many of my colleagues do believe the same thing, that they want a change," he said.
Mr Springborg was also laying low, speaking to media only briefly at an event on Wednesday night.
The Labor government has seized on the LNP's woes, with Tourism and Education Minister Kate Jones saying it showed the party wasn't fit to run the state.
"The LNP have been in turmoil now for months ... and quite frankly, I think that they just need to get on with it for the people of Queensland," she said.
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