Antionetta di Cosmo, 22, a Warrandyte contender alongside Werner, Overton, Roskam

Liberal insiders say the likely outcome of Sunday’s preselection contest is far from clear, but several have described law student Antionetta di Cosmo as the ‘dark horse’.

Warrandyte Liberal preselection hopeful Antonietta di Cosmo.

A 22-year-old law student is shaping up as one of the key contenders for Liberal preselection in the Victorian state seat of Warrandyte, alongside charity manager and former Box Hill candidate Nicole Ta-Ei Werner, former KPMG executive Sarah Overton, and former Institute of Public Affairs boss John Roskam.

Liberal insiders have told The Australian the likely outcome of Sunday’s preselection contest is far from clear, but several – representing different factional groupings – have variously described Antionetta di Cosmo as the “dark horse” and a “genuine contender” alongside Ms Werner, Ms Overton and Mr Roskam.

The member of the state rowing team has worked in retiring Warrandyte MP Ryan Smith’s ­office for the past three years and lives within the eastern suburban electorate in Donvale, having grown up there.

“She’s very bright, very enthusiastic, full of personality, well-liked by a lot of local party members, and wise beyond her years. Anyone who gets up at 4:30am to go rowing clearly has a degree of commitment and drive,” said one senior Liberal.

Another described Ms Werner, Ms Overton and Mr Roskam as the “most formidable” candidates among the field of nine, but Ms di Cosmo as the “dark horse”.

“She is impressive and is appealing to at least a component of the members. If she performed really well on the day she could be up there, which is not what you’d necessarily assume just from her age,” the Liberal said.

Former charity manager and Box Hill candidate Nicole Werner is running for Liberal preselection in the neighbouring seat of Warrandyte.

A third senior Liberal said the ideal candidate was a “local woman”, nominating Ms di Cosmo and Ms Werner – who lives just south of Warrandyte in Blackburn North but grew up attending Chinese school in Doncaster East – as two strong female candidates with close local ties.

Mr Smith, local federal MPs Keith Wolahan and Michael Sukkar and Opposition Leader John Pesutto have all made a point of not publicly backing any particular candidate.

Multiple sources said conservative factional allies of Mr Sukkar were divided between Mr Roskam and Ms Werner, while their opponents are split between Ms Overton, IT company founder, former Eltham candidate and prodigious fundraiser Jason McClintock, and former Matthew Guy and Katie Allen staffer and energy industry communications manager Jemma Townson.

Ms di Cosmo is expected to garner votes from locals, including members of the Italian community from which she hails, with the 127 registered delegates understood to be approximately 65 per cent local, and 35 per cent from the party’s state branch.

Former Institute of Public Affairs boss John Roskam has strong support from some conservative Liberals in the race for Warrandyte preselection.

“It’s fair to say the hardheads of both factions acknowledge that because the seat could be lost, we must all agree to pick the best candidate,” one party source said.