Former high-profile Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella has ruled out a political comeback regardless of the outcome of defamation damages to be handed down on Wednesday after she successfully sued a small-town newspaper.

Ms Mirabella confirmed to Fairfax Media on Tuesday that she would not nominate for preselection in the country Victorian seat of Indi, which she held from 2001 to 2013.

Sophie Mirabella has won her defamation case against local paper The Benalla Ensign. Credit:AAP

But the conservative hardliner remains popular within the party locally, with Liberal sources saying she would have strong rank-and-file support if she were to consider another tilt at Indi.

Independent Cathy McGowan stunned the political world when she took Indi from Ms Mirabella at the 2013 election and then defeated her again in 2016.