Labour's leadership candidates start selling themselves to party members on Monday and David Shearer is emerging as the favourite to take over from Phil Goff.
That's because of Thursday's surprise announcement by David Parker that he was pulling out the race and throwing his weight behind Mr Shearer.
The caucus vote on December 13 is now expected to be a run-off between Mr Shearer and finance spokesman David Cunliffe, unless another MP decides to have a crack at it.
Mr Parker didn't explain his decision and would only say he was backing Mr Shearer because there was growing support for a new face to lead the party.
Mr Cunliffe and Mr Parker are both seasoned frontbench MPs while Mr Shearer has been in Parliament less than three years, winning a by-election to replace former prime minister Helen Clark when she resigned after the 2008 election.
Mr Parker was believed to hold a narrow lead over Mr Cunliffe on the caucus count and is an influential figure in the party - his backing for Mr Shearer is going to give Mr Cunliffe serious problems.
Mr Cunliffe is running with Nanaia Mahuta as his deputy and Grant Robertson is expected to go on Mr Shearer's ticket.
Six regional meetings have been arranged between Monday and December 11 when the candidates will speak to party members and seek their backing, although the decision will be up to the 34-member caucus.
The party's general secretary, Chris Flatt, announced the schedule of meetings on Thursday and said they would be open to current members only.
They won't be open to the media and Mr Flatt said there wouldn't be any straw polls at the meetings.
NZN