Vic ALP confident of winning Lyndhurst

Martin Pakula is confident he can win the by-election in the Victorian state seat of Lyndhurst. Source: AAP

LABOR candidate Martin Pakula is confident he can win Saturday's by-election in the Victorian state seat of Lyndhurst.

Victory for Mr Pakula would leave the state parliament on a knife edge, with Labor having 43 seats to the coalition's 44, including the Speaker.

It would mean the government would still require the support of independent MP Geoff Shaw to pass legislation opposed by Labor.

The coalition is not fielding a candidate in the by-election for Lyndhurst, which was triggered when Labor's Tim Holding resigned in February.

The Australian Greens, the Democratic Labor Party, Family First, the Sex Party and three independents are contesting the seat, which Labor holds by a margin of 13.9 per cent.

Mr Pakula, a former upper house MP and public transport minister, greeted voters arriving at Keysborough Primary School on Saturday morning.

Few voters were keen to stop for a chat.

Electoral signs fluttered in the strong winds, candidate signs blew over and how-to-vote cards flew away.

Several voters commented aloud at the taxpayer money being wasted on by-elections.

Mr Pakula, who was dressed casually in jeans and a suit jacket, said he had received a good reception from voters.

Voters were concerned about cuts to TAFE colleges, manufacturing jobs in Dandenong South, roads, schools and health care, he said.

"If those concerns translate into support for the Labor Party then we should have a reasonable result tonight", he told reporters.

"I'm confident, but haven't been complacent for one moment. I've treated this by-election as if it is being held in the most marginal seat in the state."

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said Mr Pakula would regain portfolios he stepped aside from for the by-election, including shadow attorney-general, if he won.

He said Victorians would be very concerned that Mr Shaw was now likely to hold the balance of power.

Mr Andrews said everything Premier Denis Napthine did would have to meet the approval of Mr Shaw.

Greens candidate Nina Springle said she felt positive about the party's chances.

"Anything's possible. I fully recognise it's a very strong Labor seat, but I think our vote is growing," Ms Springle told AAP.

"We got our first Greens councillor up in Dandenong last year and we certainly grew our vote in the last general election in Lyndhurst.

"I can't see why that won't happen again, particularly because there's no Liberal candidate."

Ms Springle said the absence of a party candidate was sad for Liberal voters.

Public transport, health and education were the biggest issues for the area, she said.

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