Embattled Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis will be spared an internal fight to keep her seat after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other senior MPs hit the phones to save her from an ugly defeat.

The intervention also shields the Turnbull government from suffering the loss of another female MP, after assistant minister Jane Prentice was dumped by preselectors in Queensland earlier this month.

Ms Sudmalis had been facing a rout at the hands of branch members in her marginal NSW south coast seat of Gilmore, which would have also seen the 62-year-old replaced with a younger man.

Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis will be spared a preselection challenge. Credit:AAP

Fairfax Media understands Mr Turnbull directly phoned state Liberal MP Gareth Ward, who was spearheading the campaign against Ms Sudmalis, and told him in no uncertain terms he did not want a preselection battle in Gilmore.