Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley's MSP has not ruled out giving his backing to Kate Forbes' bid to become First Minister.
Willie Coffey says he will give all three prospective SNP leaders the chance to persuade him on the best way to address a number of key issues.
Ms Forbes will fight it out against health secretary Humza Yousaf and MSP Ash Regan.
The finance secretary has faced an enormous backlash for her anti-gay marriage and anti-abortion stance since launching her campaign to become Scotland's new leader earlier this week.
Mr Coffey wants to know each candidates' take on how to persuade the majority of Scots to vote for Independence.
The politician also wants to hear about proposals they have on the economy, pensions, energy, social care, tax, currency, defence and Europe before backing one candidate.
Mr Coffey said: "I’ll be asking each of the 3 candidates how they plan to take forward key issues affecting my constituency and Scotland as a whole.
"I’m interested in what their plans are to persuade a majority of Scots to back independence.
"I want to hear what their proposals are on key issues like the economy, pensions, energy, social care, tax, currency, defence and Europe.
"If we are to persuade remaining doubters to support independence, we can do it by offering better solutions than are currently being experienced by staying in the UK.
"And I will give each an opportunity to clarify their position on the equalities agenda.
"I’ll vote for the one whom I judge best to take Scotland forward in all of these key areas."
Mr Coffey's stance comes as fellow Ayrshire Holyrood colleague Siobhian Brown gave her backing to Kate Forbes.
The Ayr MSP said that although she 'strongly disagreed' with some of her personal views and religious beliefs, she 'respects that she is entitled to them'.
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