The purported bloc behind the leadership candidacy of Michael Daley is keeping its cards close to its chest as one NSW Labor MP after another steps up to endorse Chris Minns for the top job.
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Key NSW Labor frontbencher Prue Car on Thursday switched her support to Mr Minns, having voted for Mr Daley in the party's 2018 leadership ballot.
Ms Car, Labor's education spokeswoman, now believes Mr Minns has the best chance to topple the Berejiklian government in 2023. She said Mr Minns has energy and positive ideas, and would represent change.
Almost two dozen NSW Labor MPs have expressed their support for Mr Minns, and they are hoping to avoid a lengthy ballot of rank-and-file members that could leave the party leaderless for months.
But Mr Daley says he has the 15 MP signatures required to nominate for the leadership when Labor caucus meets on Friday. So far, only Coogee MP Marjorie O'Neill has publicly backed Mr Daley's leadership tilt.
AAP contacted a number of rumoured Daley supporters in NSW Labor caucus on Thursday, all of whom declined to comment.
Under new party rules brought in five years ago, more than one candidate for the Labor top job would prompt a rank-and-file ballot.
Mr Minns has signalled he wants to resolve the leadership issue quickly, warning the 2023 election could otherwise be a "write-off".
Those are fears shared by some of his supporters, who include Upper House MLC Penny Sharpe and shadow local government minister Greg Warren.
Ms Sharpe, Mr Daley's deputy during his short-lived four months as leader ahead of the 2019 election, said there'd been "a lot of water under the bridge".
"We've been in opposition for 10 years and I think Chris will bring a much-needed generational change," Ms Sharpe told AAP.
Mr Warren, the Campbelltown MP, believes Mr Daley didn't get a "fair run" at the last election - but says he'll still back Mr Minns as a change agent.
Mr Warren also said a rank-and-file ballot would ultimately damage the party.
"At the end of the day, when you have ballots of this nature, that provides opportunities to air dirty laundry," Mr Warren said.
Health spokesman Ryan Park, natural resources spokesman Paul Scully and shadow finance minister Daniel Mookhey have also backed Mr Minns, as have Walt Secord, Rose Jackson and Courtney Houssos.
Guy Zangari and Hugh McDermott have also publicly endorsed Mr Minns.
With the numbers seemingly stacked against Mr Daley, some MPs are hopeful he'll reconsider his run before Labor is forced to a ballot.
Former leader Jodi McKay has not yet publicly backed a candidate.
Australian Associated Press
