Victorian Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge will win Liberal preselection for the seat of Kew and is an outstanding future prospect in the party, the premier says.
Ms Wooldridge, whose Doncaster seat was abolished in a redistribution, is facing strong competition from former Stonnington mayor Tim Smith.
Victorian Premier Denis Napthine and former premier Jeff Kennett are backing Ms Wooldridge.
Dr Napthine said he would attend the Kew preselection meeting to publicly back Ms Wooldridge.
"She will win the preselection," he told reporters.
"There is no doubt Mary Wooldridge is one of our rising stars.
"She is an outstanding contributor, she has been promoted to the front bench in a very short space of time."
Dr Napthine said Ms Wooldridge is doing a terrific job as a minister for community services and mental health.
"She is an outstanding prospect as a future senior person in the Liberal Party for many, many years to come."
Mr Smith, 30, became mayor of Stonnington at the age of 26 and is seen as a rising star in the Liberal Party.
