Mr Crean stood just metres from his rival, union boss Martin Pakula, outside the Huntingdale Community Centre as the pair greeted local Labor members who will help decide their fate.
Dozens of those members are Cambodian refugees who have been directed by their patron, state MP Hong Lim, to support Mr Pakula.
With voting to continue today, Hotham branch president Garth Head said it was a close contest.
"My judgment is ... that Simon is looking at something in the range of the mid-to-high 40s - he could do better," Mr Head said.
"And conversely, I think Martin will get 50 to 55 per cent."
Attacking ALP powerbrokers for "treachery", Mr Crean said he was confident rank-and-file members would respond to his shabby treatment.
"There's a lot of outrage at the way I've been treated. People see it as the trashing of values," Mr Crean said.
Mr Pakula, state secretary of the National Union of Workers, was equally confident.
"It's been a good turnout. It's looking good and I'm feeling good," he said.
"I've spoken with a lot of branch members. I think I've got majority support at the local level . . . I expect to win."
Local voting finishes tonight at the South Oakleigh Bowls Club, but the result won't be known until later this week when Labor powerbrokers, who account for 50 per cent of the vote, decide.
Mr Crean, under attack from unions while he was federal leader for trying to curb their influence in the ALP, needs a strong local vote to have any chance of keeping his seat.
Labor leader Kim Beazley, who has been criticised for refusing to back his predecessor, was again reluctant to take sides yesterday.
Mr Beazley said party members were entitled to vote without him telling them what to do.
Mr Crean found unexpected support from union boss Bill Shorten, a friend of Mr Pakula.
Mr Shorten, who has already won preselection, sits on the Labor committee that will decide the Hotham poll.
"There is no question - strong local votes for Martin or Simon will be influential," he said.
The Hotham fight is one of six being waged against sitting Victorian MPs.
