David Littleproud has declared he has "no issues" with MP Colin Boyce's attempt to unseat him in tomorrow's partyroom tilt, but the Nationals leader is expected to remain in place following the meeting.
Littleproud said it was disappointing to have another Coalition split following division over federal hate speech legislation and a dispute over cabinet solidarity, but denied Boyce's claim the Nationals are "asleep at the wheel".
"He is well within his right (to challenge for the leadership)," Littleproud told Today.
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"I'll take counsel from my colleagues and I'll take their guidance and their decision.
"I believe passionately in the National Party and no matter the result, I'll accept."
Littleproud said the Nationals did not want to operate in a party room where "unilateral" decisions would be made.
He declared the party "did nothing wrong" after splitting from the Coalition over hate speech laws.
The National Party voted against new hate speech laws last month after their unsuccessful amendment to the bill.
Nationals senators Bridget McKenzie, Susan McDonald and Ross Cadell quit the frontbench after opposing the Coalition's position on the laws.
"We can't be expected to be forced to vote a particular way, because our Coalition partner wants us to do that," Littleproud said.
"We've got a right to stand up and be counted."
Boyce said he will move a spill motion against Littleproud's leadership at the Nationals' partyroom meeting tomorrow.
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Littleproud's leadership will likely remain safe despite Boyce vying to unseat him, according to Nine political editor Charles Croucher.
"I think David Littleproud is pretty safe. I mean, Colin Boyce would admit, I think if put into some kind of honesty chamber, that he's not going to win this challenge," Croucher said.
Croucher told Today that the biggest threat to the Nationals is more defectors to One Nation.
He said Littleproud should be spooked by the surge in popularity for Pauline Hanson's party.
"This could be the final step, the final warning, the final plea to the Nationals that shift across to One Nation," he said.
"One Nation is on the rise, the Coalition's numbers are shrinking and Sussan Ley's personnel are shrinking as well."
Boyce, who has been in federal parliament since 2022, has previously said the Nationals needed to change direction, and remain in the Coalition to challenge the increasing threat from One Nation.
He announced last week that he will challenge Littleproud for the leadership of their party, describing the decision to split the Coalition for the second time in a year as "political suicide".
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