SHOOTERS, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) Party candidate Philip Donato looks set to claim victory in Saturday’s byelection ahead of Thursday afternoon’s announcement of the finalised count by the NSW Electoral Commission.

But with Mr Donato’s two-party preferred lead over Nationals candidate Scott Barrett currently less than 100 votes there is also speculation a recount will be requested

As of Thursday morning Mr Donato has 18,631 two-candidate preferred votes, just 84 more than Mr Barrett’s 18,547.

At 5pm on Thursday the NSW Electoral Commission will announce the final count.

Given the final margin is likely to be fewer than 100 votes it is likely a recount will be requested.

Should that be the case the counters will re-examine all of the 49,687 votes counted, representing 88.3 per cent of the electorate’s eligible voters.

Votes from polling booths, pre-polling stations, postal votes and absentee ballots have all been accounted for.