Melanie Gibbons, the Liberal backbencher who lost preselection in her south-west Sydney seat, has nominated to take on Kiama MP Gareth Ward in the New South Wales election.
Mr Ward is running as an independent after he was suspended from the Liberal Party over allegations of historic sexual abuse.
He has been committed to stand trial and denies the allegations.
Ms Gibbons lost preselection in the seat of Holsworthy to Tina Ayyad in November last year, after representing the south-west Sydney area for 12 years.
She then wanted to run on the party's upper house ticket but did not secure a spot.
Nominations for all seats close at midday on Wednesday and then have to be approved by the Liberal Party's state executive.
Securing the nomination in the seat of Kiama could resurrect her political career, which started in 2011 when she entered state parliament.
Before Ms Gibbons lost the preselection, she was encouraged to run for the federal seat of Hughes by former prime minister Scott Morrison.
However, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet convinced her to give up her Canberra aspirations in order to recontest Holsworthy, in return for a cabinet position.
On Monday Mr Perrottet said Mr Ward should remain suspended from parliament while he remained before the courts, reiterating this was his government's decision.
"Until such time as those matters are resolved, my position remains the same," he said.
Opposition Leader Chris Minns said if Mr Ward was elected, he would not enter into any deals with him.
"I'm not going to form a government with that independent member of parliament, and secondly, we won't preference Gareth Ward," he said.
