Michael McCormack coy on Nats leadership

While Barnaby Joyce is away, Michael McCormack comes out to play.

Or so it seemed when the junior Turnbull government minister fronted up to reporters at Parliament House while the Nationals deputy leader was holed up in a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

But Mr McCormack wasn't out to announce he intends running for the Nationals leadership - a job Mr Joyce wants - when it becomes vacant.

The Riverina MP wanted to talk about a round of consultations with rural communities on ideas for 2016.

He wouldn't say whether he would contest the Nationals leadership after Warren Truss retires.

"There's absolutely no ring to be throwing any hat into at the moment and until that time comes I will continue to do my job," Mr McCormack said.

Reporters, however, were reading between the lines.

Mr McCormack's press conference was called in a snap while Mr Truss and Mr Joyce were meeting with other cabinet ministers.

Many read it as a bid to raise his relatively low profile, especially compared to Joyce.

When asked whether Mr Joyce would make a good leader, Mr McCormack said he was doing "a fine job" as agriculture minister and deputy leader.

When asked whether he would seek to be Mr Joyce's deputy, the MP said: "We'll wait and see what happens."

Nationals sources told AAP the press conference as good as confirmed Mr McCormack's leadership ambitions.

It's understood Mr Joyce is expecting a contest for the leadership.

He may just get one.