Labor has rushed to distance itself from the Victorian Greens ahead of the state election, insisting it will "absolutely" not cut a deal with the minor party.

The Greens hold three lower house seats and have set their sights on winning up to three more on November 24, taking the balance of power and drawing Labor into an alliance.

Deputy Premier James Merlino said Labor would not cut a deal with the Greens. Credit:Paul Jeffers

Deputy Premier James Merlino said that Labor would not entertain forming a coalition government with the Greens, despite a Fairfax Media/ReachTel opinion poll this week putting the Andrews government barely ahead of the Opposition, with 51 per cent of the two-party preferred vote to 49 per cent.

The Victorian Greens have maintained that they want to form a progressive government with Labor ever since their landslide win in the Northcote byelection last year, and reiterated that position on Monday.