NSW opposition leader Luke Foley is encouraging his former front bench colleague Penny Sharpe to seriously consider returning to the upper house after she failed to win the seat of Newtown in Saturday's election.
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Ms Sharpe was required to resign from the Legislative Council to contest Newtown, despite having four years of an eight-year term left to run.
Labor has yet to preselect anyone to take the upper house spot.
It is understood Mr Foley has urged Ms Sharpe - who was with the Left faction and was Labor's transport spokeswoman until her resignation - to think about renominating for preselection to serve out the balance of her term.
He has told her to consider her position over Easter.
On Sunday, Labor's left assistant secretary John Graham also offered Ms Sharpe his support, telling Fairfax Media: "I think Labor needs Penny Sharpe in politics".
But Ms Sharpe's decision is complicated by the fact that she told the Sydney Star Observer she would not seek to return to the upper house if she lost in Newtown.
During the campaign, the Greens ran an "elect Jenny, keep Penny" argument suggesting Newtown voters could safely elect its candidate Jenny Leong and still keep Ms Sharpe as she would simply be returned to the upper house.
There had been speculation that former education minister Verity Firth - who failed to win the seat of Balmain - would also seek to take Ms Sharpe's spot.
However a source said on Tuesday she would not compete with Ms Sharpe if she decided to renominate. Ms Firth and Ms Sharpe have not responded to requests for comment.
Daniel Mookhey has already been preselected to replace Labor's Steve Whan, who failed to win Monaro from the Nationals' John Barilaro.
Mr Foley is expected to be re-elected as Labor leader unopposed at a caucus meeting on Wednesday next week. He will decide his shadow cabinet shortly afterwards.
