New South Wales Deputy Premier Troy Grant has announced he will stand down as leader of the Nationals.

Key points: The NSW Nationals will vote for new leaders at a partyroom meeting on Tuesday

The NSW Nationals will vote for new leaders at a partyroom meeting on Tuesday Mike Baird said he's "saddened" by Troy Grant's decision

Mike Baird said he's "saddened" by Troy Grant's decision Member for Monaro, John Barilaro, is the frontrunner for the leadership

Education minister Adrian Piccoli has followed suit and announced he would be stepping down as deputy leader of the NSW National party.

Mr Grant was facing a partyroom leadership spill on Tuesday in the wake of a poor result in the Orange by-election at the weekend.

The party is expected to lose the once-safe Nationals seat to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party.

Mr Grant described himself as a "team player" and said the decision to step down as leader had been his.

"It's certainly not what I wanted to do, but the circumstances are what they are," he said.

"The community have a perception we're not listening to them. That's not true, but that's their perception and that's the most important thing — what they believe and what they feel.

"We haven't done a good enough job in communicating our message to them and telling them why we're doing stuff and bringing them along with our decisions.

"I'm the leader of the party and I take responsibility for failing in that department."

Premier Mike Baird said he was "incredibly saddened" by Mr Grant's decision to step down.

"I know what a great man Troy Grant is," Mr Baird said.

"His leadership in the last state election was second-to-none."

When questioned about the role of his greyhound policies in the poor election result for the Nationals on Saturday, Mr Baird said: "Clearly there was some unhappiness."

When the Nationals partyroom meets in the morning, the leadership positions are expected to be declared vacant.

Skills Minister John Barilaro is expected to nominate for the leadership, and is widely regarded as the frontrunner, but it is not yet known if he will face other challengers.