Barrister and former Olympic Skier Zali Steggall is the latest of several high-profile independent candidates to announce they will run in Tony Abbott's blue-ribbon seat — but how likely is it she will win?

Key points: Zali Steggall will dominate the independent vote, Antony Green predicts

Zali Steggall will dominate the independent vote, Antony Green predicts She could prove to be popular as a centre-right alternative to Tony Abbott

She could prove to be popular as a centre-right alternative to Tony Abbott But she'll need to reduce the Liberals' primary vote to the low 40-per-cent mark

Ms Steggall is the most well known of the former prime minister's challengers and is considered the best chance to eat into the Liberal Party's primary vote.

"She's conservative economically and socially liberal — she has significant appeal to many Liberal voters," ABC election analyst Antony Green said.

"She's the most significant of the independents who's named to contest the seat.

"She brings with her a profile as a sportsperson, as a barrister … she certainly shows the dedication you need to do well in politics."

Green said voters in Warringah would never desert the Liberal Party for a left-wing candidate, but Ms Steggall could prove popular as a centre-right alternative to Mr Abbott.

However, toppling the man who has held the seat for around two decades will not be an easy feat.

An uphill battle

If Ms Steggall wants to win Warringah, she will need to reduce the Liberal Party's primary vote to the low 40-per-cent mark.

It will not be an easy feat given the Liberals have never polled below 50 per cent in the seat.

At the last election, Mr Abbott still polled 51.6 per cent, despite a 9.2-per-cent swing against him.

Adding to her workload is the fact she will be vying for the seat in a general election, meaning she will not get anywhere near as much media attention as Kerryn Phelps did during the recent Wentworth by-election.

Zali Steggall's profile as an elite sportsperson could help in the polls. ( AAP: Alan Porritt )

"Television, radio and newspapers across the country were covering that by-election," Green said.

"Warringah's going to get less national attention … it'll require a lot more on-the-ground work by the candidates."

Candidates in urban seats are also typically less connected to their communities than their regional counterparts.

Running for parliament is also an expensive affair. Dr Phelps spent $300,000 on her campaign last year, much of it crowdfunded or donated.

The rise of the Independents

On Sunday, Ms Steggall announced she would be running for Warringah in the upcoming poll, telling reporters she wanted to be a voice for the "sensible centre" in her electorate, particularly on climate-change policy.

According to Dr Phelps, the Liberal Party is out of touch with voters in many electorates and it has not taken any steps to address the problem.

She thinks the issues that helped elect her in Wentworth are identical to the issues important to voters in Warringah.

"What's really heartening is to see the emergence of a number of sensible-centre candidates," Dr Phelps said.

"There are a lot of likenesses between the Warringah and the Wentworth electorates."

Ms Steggall will be up against other independents at the election but her profile and her centre-right views mean she will dominate the independent vote at the upcoming poll, Green predicts.