Popular independent Nick Xenophon reckons his party will go well in Saturday's election but is playing down predictions one third of South Australians could give him their vote.
If the polls were to be "sort of believed" his team has a fighting chance in the safe Liberal seats of Mayo, Barker and Grey in South Australia.
"People feel that they've been ignored in safe seats," he told ABC radio on Friday.
But he concedes preference swap deals between the Liberal Party and Labor make "life more difficult".
The senator reckons there might be some parallels between his party's popularity and anti-establishment sentiment behind the UK's decision to exit the European Union.
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But not in terms of increased immigration or asylum seeker intake, which Senator Xenophon supports.
"The parallels are this - if political elites don't listen to people there will be a backlash."
He does want to rethink free trade deals, convinced they don't deliver the promised benefits.
Senator Xenophon is expected to pick up at least one extra Senate seat, with some predicting it could be as many as four or five.
"I think people feel disconnected from the political process and are sick of the sledging between the two major parties," he said.
