The Nationals will have a "key role" in the trade portfolio if a coalition government is elected, Nationals leader Warren Truss says.
He was responding to reports senior Liberals think the Nationals are "too protectionist" to keep the trade portfolio and want coalition leader Tony Abbott to give the job to one of their own.
Mr Abbott has flagged a new ministry for trade and investment if the opposition wins the election.
Mr Truss told AAP people were getting "way ahead of themselves" by speculating about portfolios.
"There is a long way to go in this campaign and we're not being presumptuous," he said on Friday.
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"Should the coalition be successful, Tony Abbott and I will discuss portfolio allocation after the election.
"That is the usual thing to do in coalition government.
"I would expect that the Nationals will continue to have a key role in the trade portfolio."
Mr Truss said the number of Nationals ministers in an Abbott government would depend on the total number of coalitions MPs and senators in office after the election.
"Should we be fortunate enough to form government, I can assure you that the portfolios the Nationals have will be very relevant to regional Australia," Mr Truss said.
