Senior Nationals members are confident David Littleproud will remain leader of the party, while his contender admits he hasn't begun canvassing for votes.
Queensland Nationals MP Colin Boyce declared he will challenge Mr Littleproud for the party's top job when politicians return to Canberra next week, while the Liberal party scramble to reunify the coalition.
"It seems to me that under Mr Littleproud's leadership, to blow the coalition up twice now since the last federal election, that is not a position I want to be in," he told ABC Radio on Thursday.
Asked whether he was actively canvassing colleagues for votes, Mr Boyce simply said "No".
The MP denied suggestions that his motion was a move to help another member's leadership plans.
"I'm not aware of anybody else that is intending to run for leadership," Mr Boyce said.
Insiders believe the push to unseat Mr Littleproud is unlikely to succeed because the rogue MP does not have the numbers.
While influential Senator Matt Canavan said he understands Mr Boyce's intentions to rebuild the coalition, he will not support the spill motion in the party room, which will take place on Monday.
"The buck stops obviously with the leaders, so I hope David can keep everyone together," he told Sky News.
Mr Littleproud will "absolutely" remain leader, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said on Nine's Today program, adding she "cannot see the spill motion getting up".
The impending leadership spill is delaying Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's push for reunion talks with the Nationals following the spectacular break-up.
Ms Ley wrote to her Liberal colleagues on Wednesday, saying she had asked to meet with Mr Littleproud and other senior party officials, without any preconditions and as a priority.
The opposition leader said it was in the national interest to maintain a strong and functioning relationship between the two parties, regardless of whether they are in a formal coalition.
Liberal sources have told AAP Ms Ley still holds hopes of uniting the coalition after its messy divorce.
Mr Littleproud issued a statement on Wednesday night saying a time would be scheduled to meet with Ms Ley, once the spill motion is determined in the party room meeting.
The Nationals leader said it was important to respect the process of the leadership spill.
Senator Canavan also raised hopes of a reunification between the Liberals and Nationals.
"Everybody would like to see us get back together ... the disagreement we had last week is in the past," he said.
Other Nationals have struck a more defiant tone after the split, which was triggered by a disagreement over hate speech laws.
Senator McKenzie said the Nationals wouldn't be rushed into a meeting simply because the Liberal Party is feeling the pressure.
In a video posted to social media on Wednesday evening, Senator McKenzie declared the party was "never going to fold on our principles".
"It's not who we are, and it's not what we do," she said.
Mr Littleproud defended his time as leader, saying the party had held all its lower house seats at the last election.
