'Let's see how things work out': Tony Abbott talks leadership return

Tony Abbott has talked about his prospects of a return to the top job, implying he still has an eye on a return to The Lodge.

While the former PM said he's "not a big fan of assassinating the leader", Mr Abbott said "let's just see how things work out".

Mr Abbott was responding to questions about the latest Newspoll, that shows the Coalition getting closer to Labor, and Malcolm Turnbull extending his lead over Bill Shorten, as preferred prime minister.

"I'm not generally in favor of changing leaders because you can really make a bad situation worse by changing leaders," Mr Abbott told Sydney's 2GB.

"You can easily generate transaction costs that can make you go backwards not forward.

"I'm not a big fan of assassinating the leader."

Asked about his own situation, Mr Abbott said he was happy being the best MP he could.

"It's unusual for a former prime minister to come back," he said.

"You would only really come back if you were drafted by your party.

"But, let's just see how things work out."

A return is impossible to imagine.

Even if Malcolm Turnbull fell under the proverbial bus, it's hard to see how Mr Abbott could generate more than a handful of votes, at best.