LABOR'S modest recovery in the polls is not being translated into the seats that matter for the government, making an early election unlikely.

Senior party sources have told Fairfax Media that despite the government's comeback over recent months, it was still struggling in western Sydney and would go backwards if an election were held now or any time soon.

The assessment is based on internal polling and anecdotal evidence from MPs, both of which finds the rebound in support for Labor is occurring where the party needs it the least - safe inner city seats, such as Grayndler and Sydney, and Coalition seats such as Wentworth, held by Malcolm Turnbull, which Labor will not win.

''We're still showing negative in the west,'' said one official.