No result yet in key NSW by-election

Their humiliating performance in last weekend's Orange by-election was enough to dethrone a leader, but the NSW Nationals may have held on to the central western seat.

Former state Nationals leader Troy Grant stepped down this week after a significant swing against the party in last weekend's poll, in favour of Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate Phil Donato.

Five days after the vote, no result has been declared in the knife-edge battle.

A preference distribution re-count is expected to take place on Friday.

"We are not in a position to declare a result of the Orange by-election today," the Shooters party said in a statement on Thursday night.

"Yesterday, at the close of counting the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party was 84 votes ahead of the National Party.

"After distribution of preferences at the conclusion of counting today we appear to be behind the National Party by 66 votes."

The party says it believes "there is an error in today's count by a factor of 100 votes" and that counting would resume at 9am on Friday.