The federal Labor opposition is confident its fortunes are improving in Western Australia, where it expects to double its seats, in part due to the unpopularity of the Liberal-National state government. 
Opposition leader Bill Shorten will campaign in Perth on Monday and will be joined by state counterpart Mark McGowan - in contrast to a flying visiting by the prime minister last week, who campaigned without West Australian premier Colin Barnett or a local candidate.
Labor insiders said polling was showing that the swing to Mr Shorten was about twice as large as it was nationally, suggesting the unpopularity of the Barnett government was hurting the Coalition.
One source said polling was showing a swing of about 9 per cent to Mr Shorten in Western Australian compared with about 5 per cent nationally.
Labor expects to retain the three federal seats it holds in Western Australia, which are all being contested by new candidates due to the departure of Alannah MacTiernan, Gary Gray and Melissa Parke. It expects to win up to six seats and possibly seven of the 16 federal seats in the state.
Along with its current seats in Perth, Brand and Fremantle, Labor is confident it can win Cowan, where it needs a swing of 4.5 per cent, Hasluck (swing of 6 per cent) and the newly created seat of Burt. It hopes to win Swan, where it needs a swing of about 7 per cent.
The federal election could provide a boost to Mr McGowan, who has surged ahead in the polls.
To win government, Mr McGowan needs to win 10 seats and achieve a whopping 10 per cent swing. Several polls taken this year have put him in a winning position.
Mr Barnett's falling approval ratings coincide with a deterioration in state finances.
A downturn in commodity prices and lower GST revenue has exposed a big-spending government, which is on track to deliver a record $3.9 billion deficit next year. Debt is headed towards $40 billion.
It has forced the government to seek a mandate to sell the state's electricity network, Western Power, to help repay debt and fund infrastructure.
Winning Cowan, which has been held by Liberal Luke Simpkins since 2007 but has became the Liberal's most marginal seat after a redistribution, would buoy state Labor's prospects because it is a seat that captures swathes of Perth's northern suburbs
Senior political insiders on both sides believe the swing needs to be about 5 per cent, as they expect the electorate to return to a more normal voting pattern compared with the 2013 election.
Mr Barnett's poor polling, including his personal approval rating slump to its lowest level since 2008, has increased speculation about whether he will contest a third term in   March.
Some insiders expect if the polls deteriorate further Mr Barnett would organise an orderly transition to deputy Liza Harvey.
However, there is speculation about other contenders wanting the top job including transport minister Dean Nalder and justice minister Joe Francis.
A ReachTEL poll commissioned by the Electric Trades Union and Australian Services Union last week, and published by The West Australian, showed the once safe seat, Darling Range, was on a knife edge. Local government minister Tony Simpson holds the seat with a 13 per cent margin.