The field is lawyer Patrick Conaghan, MLC Melinda Pavey and councillor and businessman Adam Roberts.

Mr Conaghan said he was feeling fairly calm ahead of the preselection

"Whatever happens on Saturday happens but I am going to give it my absolute best shot," he said.

"If I'm given the opportunity, I know I will make the most of that opportunity."

Mr Conaghan said he was surprised and buoyed by the support he had received, with people stopping in the street to wish him the best.

Mr Conaghan was a police officer before becoming a solicitor and he has since established a legal practice in the region.

MLC Melinda Pavey said she had been impressed with the questions and issues raised during her talks with people across the electorate.

"I wouldn't like to predict my chance [of being preselected] because it's in the hands of the members," she said.

Mrs Pavey said if she was successful, she would focus on campaigning and the grassroots voters.

"I'm really excited about showing leadership in the Oxley community, whether it is in Kempsey, Wauchope or Comboyne or other towns," she said.

Mrs Pavey has been a member of the NSW Legislative Council for more than a decade and has served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health since 2011.

Port Macquarie-Hastings councillor and businessman Adam Roberts said he had done the work, spoken to as many members as he could and he was feeling fairly comfortable before the preselection.

"I've been hearing it will be a tight result," he said.

"I don't think there is anybody at this point that is an absolute standout and it may well come down to the wire."

Mr Roberts said he was working on delivering the best speech he could at the preselection meeting.

The Nationals' preselection was triggered by Oxley MP and former Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner's announcement that he will retire from politics at the state election.

The Oxley electorate stretches from Wauchope and the Hastings Valley in the south up to the Dorrigo plateau in the north, and includes the towns of Kempsey, South West Rocks, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Urunga and Bellingen.

lisa.tisdell@fairfaxmedia.com.au