Senators Eric Abetz, Jonathon Duniam and Wendy Askew will be hoping for number one spot

The party's three sitting senators - Wendy Askew, Eric Abetz and Jonathon Duniam - are jockeying for the coveted top spot on the ticket.

It is believed Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants the pre-selection delayed until next year to avoid it becoming a distraction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The party has not yet set a date for the pre-selection which is decided by 67 pre-selectors from across the state.

Prominent party sources say it is likely that long-serving Senator Abetz will again be placed number one on the ticket, followed by Senator Duniam and Senator Askew.

"Eric has huge experience and is a workhorse," one party member said.

"He kept going after Malcolm Turnbull dumped him as a minister and since the death of Michelle [his wife] he has just got on with it and is working harder than ever across the state."

It is believed Senator Abetz and Senator Duniam have "kissed and made up" after a media report that Senator Duniam was doing the numbers to topple him.

Senator Abetz, 62, became a senator in 1994 and was a minister in both the Howard and Abbott governments and leader of the government in the Senate before being sacked when Malcolm Turnbull became Prime Minister.

Senator Duniam, 37, who once worked for Senator Abetz and was deputy chief of staff to former Premier Will Hodgman, was elected to the Senate in 2016 and last year became Assistant Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and Regional Tourism.

One Liberal source said because he was now a Minister, Senator Duniam should win the top spot on the Liberal Senate ticket.

"He is up and coming and should be rewarded with the top spot," she said.

However, another senior Liberal is believed to be doing the numbers for Senator Askew to win number one spot.

Senator Askew, 57, took the casual vacancy created last year when her brother David Bushby resigned to take up a diplomatic post. She is said to be a solid worker.

The Liberals have been criticised for a lack of female representation but Bass MHR Bridget Archer won Bass and Senator Claire Chandler was elected.