Scott Morrison has threatened federal intervention to secure the preselections of two of his cabinet ministers and a senior MP, unless NSW party operatives who are defying him in his home state drop their “factional rubbish”.

But sources said the federal executive, which has the power to rubber stamp the preselections, was “not favourably disposed” to bypassing the party’s democratic processes and that Mr Morrison should not assume he’ll achieve the 75 per cent majority vote required.