New Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey will go head to head with Treasurer Wayne Swan for the first time on ABC television tonight.
The two will face off on ABC 1's Q and A program after a tumultuous week for the Liberal Party which marred any chance of a clean start in the job for the former Howard government minister.
Tonight's debate comes ahead of any opportunity the two have to trade blows on each other in Federal Parliament.
Mr Hockey's promotion to the treasury portfolio after Julie Bishop stood down on Monday was overshadowed by revelations that former treasurer Peter Costello was offered the job ahead of him.
The leaking of the offer also led to speculation about Liberal leadership tensions, with Mr Costello making no indications of when he might leave Parliament despite not wanting to return to the frontbench.
Mr Hockey is widely regarded as a strong parliamentary performer and in the final months of the Howard government he was tasked with selling the unpopular WorkChoices legislation.
Before that he became well known to the public through his regular weekly appearances alongside future prime minister Kevin Rudd on Channel 7's Sunrise program.
