Prime Minister John Howard has issued a blunt warning to Liberal colleagues who want him to quit before the election, saying he has never run away from a fight.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull reportedly want Mr Howard to step down, but have not asked him to do so.
But Mr Howard said the Liberal leadership was resolved last year and it was not in the party's interest to revisit it.
"That is my position, my very strong position," Mr Howard told reporters.
"I believe the next election will be difficult for the coalition, but we can win it.
"And I hope people understand from observing me in 30-odd years of public life that I have never run from a fight before and I don't intend to do so now."
Earlier today Environment and Water Resources Minister Malcolm Turnbull denied telling Prime Minister John Howard he should quit for the benefit of the party.
Sky News has reported that Mr Turnbull and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer want Mr Howard to go.
But a spokeswoman for Mr Turnbull said the minister had "definitely not" asked Mr Howard to go.
"It's totally unsubstantiated," she said.
The prime minister's office also rejected the report.
A press spokesman for Mr Howard said he had spoken to Mr Downer's office after the report and the office had denied the sentiments in the report.
"I'm just up in Mr Downer's office. They are denying that that has occurred," the spokesman told AAP.
"I've just spoken to Alexander Downer's office and they have been strongly denying it and so have Mr Turnbull's office.
"Why would Mr Turnbull have a role?"
He said there was no reason why Mr Howard's itinerary, including welcoming Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Parliament, would not go ahead as planned.
Mr Howard's leadership has been under pressure over the past few days after more bad opinion polls for the government.
The prime minister said on Monday that he would stay, and would not call an election for at least the next two weeks.
Liberal senators have reaffirmed their faith in the prime minister despite speculation he should stand down before the federal election.
Senator Alan Ferguson said Mr Howard's job was "rock solid".
"He's always had plenty of authority and he's always maintained the respect of all the members of the party, otherwise he wouldn't still be there," he told reporters in Canberra.
Senator Ross Lightfoot said he was confident Mr Howard was the right person to lead the coalition into the election.
"He's not a lame duck he's one of the best prime ministers we've ever had (and) history will treat him very kindly," the senator told reporters in Canberra.
"All I know is that he enjoys the support of the party room and that's the only place that will change his leadership unless he wants to step down voluntarily (which) he's indicated he's not going to.
"The party room I'm quite sure, without any equivocation whatsoever, is quite happy to support him."
And West Australian Liberal senator Judith Adams agreed.
"There will be no tap on the shoulder - the prime minister is leading us to the next election and he's the right person to do it."
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