Swimmer Daniel, however, looks to have an edge after his two gold and one silver medal effort in last year's Manila Sea Games, followed by a magnificent performance in the World Youth Championships in Brazil last August where he clinched two silver medals.
At the Asean schools meet, the Sarawak swimmer won five gold medals and two silver as well.
Daniel is down to compete in the butterfly races over 50m, 100m and 200m and the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events in the Asian Games on Dec 1-15.
Diver Bryan Lomas, on his part, won one gold medal in the Manila Games and one silver in the Commonwealth Games.
At the World Junior Championships in Kuala Lumpur in August, Bryan took bronze in the 10m platform.
National cricketer Suhan Kumar Alagaratnam is the other contender for the award which is celebrating its 10th anniversary today.
Suhan represented Malaysia in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) championship with the senior team. He was the best player in the ACC tournament and also at the Carl Schubert Trophy held in Singapore this year.
The other contenders include squash player Mohd Nafizwan Adnan and shuttler Mohammad Arif Latif.
In the Sportsgirl category Zyanne Lee Huey is the leading candidate for her three gold medals in synchronised swimming (solo) in last year's Malaysian Open.
National gymnast Durratun Nashihin Rosli, who won one gold and two bronze medals in the Manila Sea Games, however, could pip Zyanne to the title.
The other nominees in the category are diver Leong Mun Yee, bowler Wan Nur Atiqqa , swimmer Chai Sook Fun and national pole vaulter Noor Akmar Fatah.
