Malcolm Turnbull has tried to get ahead of Monday's expected 30th Newspoll loss, reminding nervous MPs the benchmark wasn't the only reason he toppled Tony Abbott.
Amid whispers and speculation about his leadership, the prime minister, told the Australian Financial Review, much of what he promised when he became PM is being delivered.
"When I stood up and nominated to be leader of the Liberal Party, in 2015, I said I would deliver economic leadership and I would deliver traditional government, among other things," he told the newspaper.
"Economic leadership, we have demonstrated, I think, very, very convincingly."
Economic management was, indeed, one of the other reasons Malcolm Turnbull cited to move against Tony Abbott.
But, unavoidably, the publication of Newspoll, on Monday, will focus attention on his future, with rumblings that it'll depend on public reaction to next month's Budget.
Mr Turnbull told the Financial Review that if the government is given "clear air" it can defeat Labor next year, and that he has to keep delivering.
The PM was backed last night by former prime minister, John Howard, who urged the Liberals to unite behind Mr Turnbull.
"I don't find any evidence in the party that people want a change of leader," Mr Howard told ABC's 7.30.
And he said Coalition MPs had to work together "in a far more purposeful way than has been evident in the last few months."
Mr Howard also believes Malcolm Turnbull can defeat Bill Shorten.
Senior minister, Christopher Pyne, said Mr Turnbull would lead the Liberals to the next election and win.
"It's not going to happen" Mr Pyne told the Today Show, when asked about a possible move against his leader.
"We have a leader," Mr Pyne said.
"He's supported by the party room."
And he dismissed the Newspoll result as an "irrelevance".
"Nobody cares," he insisted.
There's been speculation, denied by Peter Dutton, that he could be a candidate.
Mr Pyne said it was "rubbish" to suggest the government's chances would improve if the Home Affairs Minister became leader.