Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper is well poised to become the first back-to-back winner of the John Eales Medal on Thursday night.
Hooper is the favourite for the peer-voted award as Australia's best Test player for a turbulent past 12 months for the Wallabies.
Appointed the team's fourth youngest captain in history in June, the 22-year-old openside flanker maintained his consistent excellence in playing performance despite the extra leadership responsibility and his team's erratic results.
Superstar fullback Israel Folau and tireless prop James Slipper are the other main contenders for the annual award, which has been dominated by forwards since first minted in 2002.
Only three backs - Chris Latham, Matt Giteau and Kurtley Beale - have worn the medal while six times it's been awarded to back-rowers.
Hooper could join fellow openside George Smith (2002 and 2008) and retired skipper Nathan Sharpe (2007 and 2012) as the only dual winners.
Brumbies lock Sam Carter looms as the favourite for the rookie of the year award at the presentation ceremony at Royal Randwick Racecourse.
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