SARAH HENDERSON will recontest the federal seat of Corangamite for the Liberals at the next federal election.

The former ABC journalist has beaten out ROD NOCKLES and MARCUS DRIPPS for the right to take on Labor's DARREN CHEESEMAN, who holds the country's most marginal seat by 771 votes.

HENDERSON says she's looking forward to trying to return the seat to the Liberal party, which lost it to Labor in 2007 for the first time since 1929.

This year’s Liberal pre-selection battle in Corangamite was mired in claims of dirty dealings, with allegations of a dirt sheet targeting one candidate sparking a formal party investigation.

HENDERSON is backed by Liberal elder MICHAEL KROGER while ROD KNOCKLES has the support of former federal treasurer PETER COSTELLO.

KROGER and COSTELLO had a nasty falling out earlier this year, adding an extra tinge of viciousness to the Corangamite pre-selection fight.