SA Liberals prepare for two by-elections

South Australia's state Liberal opposition is preparing for two by-elections, following the death of long-serving independent MP Bob Such.

Dr Such's family released a statement to say the independent MP, who has held the seat of Fisher since 1989, died on Saturday morning after being diagnosed with a brain tumour six months ago.

A by-election for the seat of Fisher will provide the Liberals with a chance to add to its 21 lower house seats.

Labor holds 23 seats in the lower house but independent MPs Martin Hamilton-Smith and Geoff Brock have promised to back the government on supply and no-confidence motions, while voting freely on other issues.

A by-election will also be held in the neighbouring seat of Davenport, with Liberal MP Iain Evans planning to retire in the coming months.

Opposition leader Steven Marshall says nine Liberal candidates will contest preselection for Davenport, with a candidate to be chosen this week.

"Everybody is, at the moment, focused on celebrating the contribution that Bob Such has made," he said on Monday.

"But quickly, there will be people that will be turning their minds to what happens next."

University of Adelaide lecturer Clem MacIntyre said he expected the Liberals to win both seats but a strong independent candidate could draw strong support.

"Davenport is a long-time Liberal seat that the Liberals will expect to hold," he told ABC radio.

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SA Liberals prepare for two by-elections

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