Labor firming in SA election

Labor is firming to retain office in South Australia as counting in the state election nears completion.

The party is still leading in 23 seats and is likely to hold all those, leaving the Liberals with 22 in the 47-seat House of Assembly.

That will result in a hung parliament with independents Geoff Brock and Bob Such to determine which party can form a minority government.

They are still thought to be several days away from making a decision, though Mr Brock has indicated stability for the next government will be crucial.

That suggests he may be more likely to back Labor, given it will probably have one more vote to play with in the parliament.

Backing a Liberal government could leave it just one vote away from falling in any no confidence vote.

In counting on Thursday, Labor appeared to hold off the Liberal challenge in Colton, Ashford, Elder and Light, while the opposition extended its margin it the three seats it will win from Labor - Hartley, Bright and Mitchell.

With more than 80 per cent of the vote now counted, party officials suggested the chance of major changes at this point was unlikely.

Both Mr Brock and Dr Such have met with Premier Jay Weatherill and Opposition Leader Steven Marshall this week, with Mr Brock also taking counsel from local government chiefs in his mid-north electorate.

His seat is traditionally conservative, but he said that would not weigh heavily on his mind.

Dr Such is a former member of the Liberal Party, but quit in acrimonious circumstances in 2000.

He has promised not to let historic differences influence his decision, but is thought to be continually irked by Liberal Party attempts to win back his southern suburbs district.