Former state cabinet minister and opposition leader Mia Davies will run for the Nationals in Bullwinkel, in Perth's outer suburbs.
The coalition is looking to bounce back in WA after Anthony Albanese managed to secure a majority government by flipping what were once considered safe Liberal seats in and around Perth.
Former WA opposition leader Mia Davies is the Nationals candidate for Bullwinkel. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)
Ms Davies has been polling well in the seat but the Nationals still expect a tough fight against Labor.
"It's a tough fight ... but Mia is the only one who can win that seat for the coalition," federal Nationals Leader David Littleproud told AAP.
Frustration and anger were permeating against the government over issues like cost of living, banning live sheep exports and the need for more mining sector support, he said.
While the Nationals support base is put down to rural and regional farmers, "we represent more doctors, more nurses, more teachers than we do farmers", he said when asked of the seat's makeup.
"So these people, also in the suburbs of Perth, are the forgotten people," he said.
"Mia has made big inroads when she was opposition leader, that gives her a red hot crack at knocking that Labor off.
"But it won't be easy, they'll throw everything at it."
David Littleproud says Perth's outer suburbs are the "forgotten people". (Russell Freeman/AAP PHOTOS)
The WA Nationals conference on Saturday passed motions to scrap stamp duty for first-home buyers to address housing affordability.
While state issues were the conference's focus, Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie will spend a week in the electorate with the candidate to sharpen an infrastructure spending pitch ahead of the federal election.
"We are throwing the kitchen sink at Bullwinkel," she told AAP.
"Regional issues resonate much more in Perth suburbs, which is a risk not just for the Cook government, but for Albanese.
"They're very aware of the role the resources industry plays in the state's economy and the national economy and they're very well aware of the role agriculture plays."
Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie will spend a week in the Bullwinkel electorate. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
But the Liberals haven't given up on winning Bullwinkel over the Nationals.
The coalition partners will run against each other in a rare contest to claim the seat.
Senior WA Liberals pointed to Ms Davies' support of the voice during the referendum, which the state voted against resoundingly, as evidence of bad judgment as to what matters for her community.
One senior Liberal also pointed to Ms Davies saying she "had no fuel left in the tank" when resigning from state politics.
"How on earth do you go from that to a job that requires being on planes back and forward from Canberra with relentless energy and determination?"
Bullwinkel was also primarily a semi-suburban seat, with Ms Davies' traditional support coming from the wheatbelt, another party insider said.
"But that's not where most of the vote is," they said.
Tagney, Curtin, Pearce and Swan are also in the Liberals' sights, as they try and capitalise on dwindling satisfaction with Labor.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also working to shore up support in the state, bringing his cabinet west on Monday for the fourth time.
