Kate Forbes has pledged the Scottish Government Cabinet will undergo a "refresh" if she is elected First Minister.
The SNP leadership contender is in a two-horse race with Humza Yousaf to replace Nicola Sturgeon, with third candidate Ash Regan considered an outsider.
But Forbes has struggled to win endorsements from senior SNP parliamentarians compared to the health secretary.
Yousaf has won backing from numerous leading MPs and MSPs including John Swinney and Ian Blackford.
Speaking on a campaign stop in Abernethy today, the finance secretary said she would choose ministers with "lived experience" of the sectors they would represent.
"I would expect to see a refreshed cabinet, ensuring that we appoint the best people for the job," Forbes said.
"I would like to see people in jobs who have lived experiences, perhaps have a background in the particular areas and sectors, and ultimately a cabinet that is reflective of the people of Scotland.”
Her comments come as the Scottish Conservatives wrote to Forbes to ask for permission to use her criticism of Yousaf’s record in Government during last week's firey STV debate.
Forbes told her rival: "You were a transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister we’ve got record-high waiting times.
"What makes you think you can do a better job as first minister?"
Forbes' campaign team yesterday denied she apologised to Yousaf for tearing strips off him during the debate.
A spokesperson for the leadership candidate said claims she said sorry were “absolute nonsense”.
Sources close to Yousaf’s campaign said she said sorry to the Health Secretary on the same night after the debate.
However, a spokesperson for Forbes poured scorn on the claim: “As you would expect of Cabinet colleagues, both Kate and Humza chatted for almost half an hour after the STV debate and left the studios together.
“It was good natured, and claims of an apology are absolute nonsense. On the contrary, in that conversation afterwards they both mentioned their desire to include the other in their future Cabinet.
“Both Humza and Kate have put each other in the spotlight during the STV and subsequent TV debates, which is part and parcel of a leadership campaign.
"Kate continues to make the case that she is best placed to deliver independence for Scotland.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
