Tony Abbott will move this week to cement his hold on the Liberal Party in his electorate, bringing in former Woolworths chief Roger Corbett as a key ally in another sign he has no plans to leave Parliament.

The former prime minister has drafted Mr Corbett to lead the Liberal conference that controls the party in the blue-ribbon Sydney seat of Warringah, injecting a powerful business figure into the party organisation.

But the transition has fuelled talk that the party must prepare to find a candidate to replace Mr Abbott after the next term of Parliament, as Liberals fight over who should replace Malcolm Turnbull in Wentworth.

Roger Corbett will play a key role in Tony Abbott's Sydney electorate. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Mr Corbett is described by those who know him as a strong-willed business leader and an interventionist chairman, leading to speculation he will be a check on Mr Abbott’s influence in the local branches.