Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp will push Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to drop a zero case target for lifting key coronavirus restrictions, arguing it amounts to an elimination strategy, as businesses ramp up criticism of her for not advocating harder for their survival.

Ms Capp is facing a major business backlash ahead of an October 24 council election, with retail shops as well as cafes, pubs and restaurants among the biggest losers in Mr Andrews' reopening plan.