A CONFIDENT federal Industry Minister Christopher Pyne has backed himself to sail to victory on the back of 12 future submarines after being a key player in bringing the build to Adelaide. 
Voting yesterday, the experienced campaigner said he was unfazed by the looming threat posed by the Nick Xenophon Team and his traditional rival in the Labor Party.
Mr Pyne cast a ballot at Stonyfell's St Peter Girls' School about 10am yesterday, chatting with CFS volunteers and his 2013 Labor rival Rick Sarre, before voting.
Asked if he was concerned about losing his seat to NXT candidate Matthew Wright, Mr Pyne replied: "Nope".
"I am always trepidatious on polling day and I never count until it is done," said Mr Pyne. "But we deserve to win â€¦ and I am confident that I have done enough." Labor's Matthew Loader was confident voters would deliver a big swing against Mr Pyne. "There were huge queues this morning in Glynde and Tusmore and that generally tells me that there is a swing on," Mr Loader said.
Mr Pyne has also been the lead Coalition minister aiding Whyalla's steelworks, to be put on the market within weeks after parent company Arrium collapsed into administration.
The Coalition's backflip after the last federal election, as it considered an offshore build and sending the contract to Japan, badly damaged the Liberals' support in SA and became a critical factor in the axing of Tony Abbott last year.
Mr Pyne and his moderate faction allies were key movers in the change of leader and shift in subs policy.
Voting in Sturt yesterday morning started with a bizarre mix-up, as staff at the Hillcrest Community Centre handed out the wrong ballot papers and were forced to apologise.
Booth staff were quick to catch the error after six people were given ballot papers for the neighbouring Labor-held seat of Adelaide.
Australian Electoral Commission state manager Paul Hawes said he had not received complaints. "It was an 8am teething issue and we were quick to apologise to the individuals affected," Mr Hawes said. "I am proud of how quickly our staff were able to respond to the situation." Mr Pyne has held Sturt since 1993, and was re-elected in 2013 with a 10 per cent margin. During the campaign, Mr Pyne promised millions of dollars for sporting club redevelopments including upgrades at Campbelltown Memorial Oval and Norwood Football Club.
Mr Pyne came within less than 1000 votes of dropping the seat to Labor's Mia Handshin in 2007, as Liberal support ebbed during the rise of former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
STURT PYNE (LIB) LOADER (ALP) WRIGHT (NXT)MARGIN 10.1%