The next leader of the Victorian Liberals will be either John Pesutto or Brad Battin, with one party elder describing the duel as a test of whether the party wants to win an election or continue internal skirmishes.

The party will decide whether Mr Pesutto, a former shadow attorney general, or Mr Battin, a former policeman who tried and failed to roll former leader Michael O’Brien in March last year, becomes the new opposition leader at a meeting next Thursday morning.