All Blacks Kieran Read and Ben Smith are among five players on a shortlist to be named world rugby player of the year.
The International Rugby Board announced the nominees including South African lock Eben Etzebeth, Italian No.8 Sergio Parisse and Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny, who was a standout performer on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Read and Smith both present strong cases for the top prize following influential roles in helping New Zealand win 13 from 13 Tests in 2013 heading into Sunday's season-ending game against Ireland in Dublin.
Smith scored 11 tries, mostly when playing on the wing, while No.8 Read has unfurled an all-round game which has netted him six tries from his last six Tests.
Halfpenny was named player of the Six Nations and kicked with deadly accuracy during the Lions' 2-1 series win over the Wallabies.
Etzebeth has impressed with his physicality in just his second year of Test rugby while the athletic Parisse's standards have been consistently high.
All Blacks five-eighth Dan Carter won the award for a second time last year.
New Zealand captain Richie McCaw is the only other multiple winner since the awards were introduced in 2001, claiming the honour three times.
The nominees were selected by an independent panel of nine former Test players headed by Australian great John Eales and including former All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga.
A public vote will be considered by the panel when they reconvene on November 30.
The winner will be unveiled shortly afterwards, along with team of the year and coach of the year.
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