A Victorian Liberal leadership contender has dropped out of the race, setting up a two-way battle between hopefuls Brad Battin and John Pesutto.
Polwarth MP Richard Riordan on Thursday withdrew his candidacy and threw his support behind Mr Battin to replace outgoing state party leader Matthew Guy after Saturday's crushing election defeat.
"The Liberal Party needs to appeal to our metropolitan growth areas and regional cities," Mr Riordan wrote on social media.
"Our leadership reset with Brad Battin, an experienced outer suburban member, will help drive this. I will go forward as a candidate for (regional Victoria)."
The Liberal party room is expected to meet next Thursday when Mr Battin, who comfortably won the seat of Berwick, is poised to face off with Mr Pesutto after the former shadow attorney-general reclaimed the seat of Hawthorn.
The 52-year-old moved almost 1000 votes ahead of teal independent Melissa Lowe on Wednesday, prompting Ms Lowe to concede the result.
It leaves just six lower house races yet to be called, including Pakenham where the Liberals' lead has narrowed.
Liberal candidate David Farrelly skipped ahead of Labor's Emma Vulin by 220 votes on Wednesday but his lead had been whittled down to five on Thursday.
The Liberals trail Labor in Bass and Hastings but their candidate Chris Crewther remains ahead of teal candidate Kate Lardner in the seat of Mornington by nearly 400 votes.
Labor is on track to hold Northcote and Preston over Greens and independent candidates, taking the party close to equalling the 55 seats it won in 2018.
Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to unveil a minor cabinet reshuffle after the new Labor caucus meets.
One ministry spot has been left open following the retirement of Western Victoria Region MP Jaala Pulford, while there is speculation Veterans Minister Shaun Leane might be moved out of cabinet.
Northern Metropolitan Region MP Enver Erdogan and St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman have been raised as replacements, while Lizzie Blandthorn could lose the planning portfolio over her lobbyist brother's ties to major construction firms.
Asked if Mr Erdogan and Ms Suleyman would be promoted to cabinet, Mr Andrews was tight-lipped on Thursday.
"Caucus will determine who comes into cabinet and I haven't yet set a time for a caucus meeting," he told reporters at the future site of the Metro Tunnel's Town Hall Station.
"That is the definition of jumping the gun."
Official results for close seats will not be finalised until preference distributions are carried out next week, potentially pushing back Labor's caucus meeting.
Final outcomes for upper house spots are expected to take even longer.
THE REMAINING VICTORIAN LIBERAL LEADER CONTENDERS:
* John Pesutto
- Age: 52
- Seat: Hawthorn, 2014-2018 and 2022-
- Shadow minister appointments: attorney-general
- Former roles: electorate officer for federal MP Russell Broadbent, lawyer, counsel to premier Denis Napthine, senior advisor to premier Ted Baillieu
- Education: Catholic Regional College Traralgon, University of Melbourne
- Family: wife, three daughters
* Brad Battin
- Age: 46
- Seat: Gembrook 2010-2022; Berwick 2022-
- Shadow minister appointments: police, emergency services, community safety and victim support, corrections
* Parliamentary positions: secretary for the environment
* Committee memberships: deputy chair of Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee
- Former roles: retail worker, police officer, prison officer, small business owner (Bakers Delight in Wheelers Hill)
- Education: Harkaway Primary School, Berwick College (left school at 15 to started working full time at McDonalds)
- Family: wife, two daughters
