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Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles' backers say he has the numbers to step into the shoes of outgoing Labor leader Annastacia Palaszcuzk, following her resignation yesterday.
He was the first to throw his hat into the ring to lead the Sunshine State and was anointed by Palaszczuk as her successor but there are two other contenders.
9News can reveal Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and Treasurer Cameron Dick are working on a joint ticket and expected to make a statement today.
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Fentiman and Palaszczuk don't see eye-to-eye and she wasn't named in the premier's address yesterday.
Dick was hailed as "one of the best treasurers I've ever seen in this state" but insiders said their relationship wasn't as strong as it used to be.
Miles' camp is confident he has the party room support to take over the top job and he has the support of union heavyweight Gary Bullock, who yesterday insisted he didn't push the premier to resign.
As Cyclone Jasper approaches, Miles will also have the chance to audition for the role
Fentiman's supporters remained tight-lipped as they tried to negotiate a deal with Dick, who is known to have leadership ambitions but is from the party's Right faction, which doesn't have the numbers in its own right to put him in the top job.
His backers said he was weighing up his options.
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The premier's resignation came after weeks of speculation about her future amid falling popularity in the polls but the search for her replacement could turn messy for Labor.
If more than one contender takes their leadership tilt to a vote, Labor Party rules mean not just the party room but also unions and branch members will have a say.
That could be a long and messy process forcing the contenders to essentially campaign against each other, a potentially damaging situation as its members are forced to talk about themselves while a cyclone bears down on the state.
