Craig Kelly is all but assured to remain the Liberal Party's candidate for the safe Sydney seat of Hughes after three moderate-aligned members of the party's powerful executive decided to abstain from a vote on his future, despite former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull urging them not to.

The race to save Mr Kelly, a vocal conservative, from facing a preselection race considered unwinnable has consumed the NSW Liberals, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison pushing for the state executive of the party to guarantee the backbencher's position through the use of emergency powers.

Mr Turnbull yesterday began making calls to moderate-aligned members of the committee, urging them not to save Mr Kelly, who had been a thorn in the side of his government over issues including the National Energy Guarantee, which was ultimately the former prime minister's undoing.