Senior Nationals have leapt to the defence of Barnaby Joyce after Andrew Broad became the party's first federal MP to publicly call for the embattled deputy prime minister to quit.
The Victorian backbencher says his branch wants Mr Joyce to go and he will take that to Monday's party room meeting.
"It is time he takes a step back, regains some credibility and works through some issues he needs to work through," Mr Broad told ABC radio on Thursday.
"My guys are telling me, and this is what I'll be taking back to Canberra, that he needs to step down as leader of the National party and take a step back into the back bench."
However, Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie said in a statement: "There is no stronger advocate for regional Australia than Barnaby Joyce."
She said there would not be a full party room scheduled for Monday because senators would be involved in estimates hearings.
If Mr Broad wants a full party room meeting he will have to request it from whip Michelle Landry, who is likely to grant permission but will back Mr Joyce retaining the leadership.
Cabinet minister Nigel Scullion says he "absolutely" supports Mr Joyce, who he believes will be deputy prime minister at the end of Monday.
"If I had three votes they'd all go to him but unfortunately I've only got one," Mr Scullion told ABC radio.
A party room meeting on Monday will decide the future of Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Source: AAP
"I don't walk away from my mates because they get a bit of a jolt."
Mr Broad said the final straw was Mr Joyce and pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion giving their first interview as a couple to Fairfax Media.
Mr Joyce is on a week's personal leave after weeks of scrutiny over his affair with Ms Campion and controversy over political jobs she was given.
Mr Broad said Mr Joyce was not fit to step up as Australia's acting prime minister.
"He's meant to be taking a break and he's clearly playing to the media," he said.
"This is an issue we should have let quietly die and let's get on with the core job but he's not prepared to do that."
Mr Broad said Mr Joyce had told him on the phone he would not stand down.
The Mallee MP's call came days after West Australian Nationals state leader Mia Davies publicly urged Mr Joyce to stand aside and hours after Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington refused to say whether Mr Joyce had the support of the Liberal National Party.
"It is a matter for the federal Nationals and I'm really going to leave it at that," Ms Frecklington told reporters.
Acting Prime Minister Mathias Cormann said he had been in touch with the deputy prime minister, who would ordinarily be in the position when Malcolm Turnbull was overseas.
"We had a very good conversation. He was cooking spaghetti at the time we talked," he told reporters in Canberra.
"Yes it's a distraction for the government but there's some human beings involved."
Labor leader Bill Shorten said Mr Joyce's private life was "not really fit for open commentary" but there were legitimate concerns around whether he used his public position for private benefit.
Mr Turnbull and Mr Joyce have been in public conflict since the prime minister said his deputy had committed a "shocking error of judgment" over his affair.
Nats who can decide Joyce's future
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce appears to have more friends than enemies in the party room ahead of a meeting on Monday.
Victorian Nationals MP Andrew Broad wants Barnaby Joyce benched, after revelations about his affair with an office staffer. But what does the party room think?
Barnaby Joyce
Joyce insists he isn't moving, labelling calls to oust him a "witch-hunt" and urging the media to "move on".
Bridget McKenzie
The senator who became Joyce's deputy in December is sticking by her leader, offering a "rolled gold guarantee" he will remain in the position.
David Littleproud
The first-term MP, appointed agriculture minister at Joyce's insistence in December, has urged those agitating against the leader to "put up or shut up".
Nigel Scullion
The NT senator, who was interim parliamentary leader when Joyce was contesting the by-election, has backed the leader to remain and says reports about Joyce's affair are the biggest beat-up he's seen.
Matthew Canavan
The former chief-of-staff to Joyce, Canavan was also caught up in the revelations after he employed Ms Campion.
Michael McCormack
In a car-crash television interview, the NSW Nationals MP and leadership contender refused six times to support Joyce as leader, relying on the phrase "at the moment" before saying "of course" he supported him.
Darren Chester
The former infrastructure minister was dumped in the December reshuffle, losing his portfolio to Joyce, seen by some as a rebuke from the leader.
Keith Pitt
The now-backbencher from Queensland was also dumped from his trade responsibilities in the reshuffle and has been laying low since the Joyce reports surfaced.
George Christensen
The outspoken MP and former party whip has backed his leader and says he continues to have the support of the party room.
Damian Drum
Drum has also slotted in behind his leader and insists he understood Joyce's affair with Ms Campion was over when she moved to work in his office.
Barry O'Sullivan
The outspoken Queenslander supports Joyce, saying he's one of the best politicians the country has had in his lifetime. Do you "shoot your best horse because he jumped the fence and was found in the neighbour's paddock".
Andrew Board
The Victorian MP says Joyce must go to the backbench and will take a motion to colleagues on Monday when parliament resumes.
Ken O'Dowd
The Queensland backbencher believes the ball is in Joyce's court, but something needs to be resolved.
Llew O'Brien
The fellow Queenslander admits there are obviously people concerned about the crisis but just as many, if not more, are supportive of Joyce.
Michelle Landry
The party's whip has been publicly standing by her leader and won't support a change.
John Williams
One of the first to warn any revelations about the misuse of public money would mean trouble for Joyce, but has expressed confidence in him.
Andrew Gee
The NSW MP says he hasn't been approached by anyone talking about a Joyce challenge.
Luke Hartsuyker
The former minister believes Joyce needs to work through his issues, but the coalition can move on with him at the helm.
David Gillespie
The backbencher, who is facing his own High Court fight about questions over his eligibility, says he supports Joyce.
Kevin Hogan
The NSW MP has no doubt Joyce is feeling very bruised, but has talked up the job he has done leading the party.
Mark Coulton
The NSW MP has said he has "no comment" on Joyce's future.
WA Nationals
Issued a statement saying Joyce had lost their support because of the "ongoing damage" he is doing to the party.
