Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby captain and No8 Mike Coman is the hot favourite for his team's player-of-the-year award which will be announced tomorrow night.
The Magpies Supporters Club player-of-the-year award will be one of four announced at an East Pier-hosted Magpies sponsors function in Napier. Although Coman missed a large chunk of the season through injury he was inspirational in the side's three ITM Cup wins against Counties-Manukau, Bay of Plenty and Otago.
His absence was particularly noticed during the Magpies final two games of the season, the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato and the loss against his former province Canterbury. Should he win the award it will be the ideal form of consolation for missing out on selection in the Hurricanes Super Rugby squad last month.
However it will be a surprise if he isn't named in the Canes wider training group later this month.
If anyone was to pip Coman for the major award tomorrow night it would be Maori All Black hooker Hika Elliot. But the fact Elliot missed All Blacks selection is likely to give Coman the nod.