Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba hinted Friday that he will accept a Cabinet post if Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offers him one in a reshuffle that is due to take place on Wednesday.

Whether Ishiba will shun Abe's offer of a Cabinet post and emerge as a powerful rival against him in the LDP presidential election next fall has become the focus of widespread speculation.

But for now at least, Ishiba has chosen to avoid an outright confrontation with Abe.