The Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner, yesterday said that if the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, was tomorrow subjected to serious analysis about his position on the future of the health system, ''he won't win the debate''.

Mr Abbott saw his job at the debate differently, indicating he would not reveal any fresh health policy. ''My job is to scrutinise Mr Rudd's proposals and the problem with his proposals is that they are not going to make any difference for patients any time soon,'' he said.

At tomorrow's debate between the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Mr Abbott, at the National Press Club, each leader will speak then face journalists' questions.

The ABC television journalist and Press Club director Chris Uhlmann will moderate.

Mr Tanner yesterday defended Mr Rudd against criticisms of his leader's debating talent, saying he was ''a very good debater''.

''But the real question is 'where's the substance, where's the future policy?' and that is what will tell in the long term,'' he told Channel Nine.