A new poll in the Victorian seat of Indi gives independent MP Cathy McGowan a small lead over her Liberal challenger – and former Indi seat holder – Sophie Mirabella.

A poll of 656 Indi residents, conducted by ReachTEL on behalf of the Australia Institute, revealed  37.3 per cent would give their first preference vote to Ms McGowan and 26.9 per cent to Mrs Mirabella.

Indi is set to be one of the electorates of significant interest in the upcoming election after Mrs Mirabella, a Coalition frontbencher, narrowly lost to Ms McGowan by just 439 votes at the 2013 election – in which Tony Abbott led the Coalition to victory.

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She was the only sitting coalition MP to lose her seat.

The new poll showed, however, the final result remained uncertain.

The rest of the votes were divvied up between the Nationals, Labor, Greens and independent candidates, with 7.6 per cent undecided.

Of those undecided, 24 per cent said they have a slight leaning to Ms McGowan and 27 per cent could opt for Mrs Mirabella.

– with AAP