Anthony Albanese has stepped up expectation management before Saturday’s federal byelection in the Victorian seat of Aston, claiming anything less than a solid swing towards the Coalition will be a failure for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

But as he made the claim to the caucus, Mr Dutton moved simultaneously, telling his party room the messy attempt by state Victorian Liberal Leader John Pesutto to expel controversial upper house MP Moira Deeming had not helped the Coalition’s prospects in Aston.