Jose Fonte and Morgan Schneiderlin are hoping to follow in the footsteps of Saints legends such as Peter Shilton and Matt Le Tissier and become only the sixth man to win two Daily Echo Player of the Season awards.

The pair join Toby Alderweireld as being amongst the favourites for this season’s poll, which launches today to decide the 42nd winner of the prestigious trophy.

Successful campaigns always make it far more competitive when it comes to picking a winner of the Daily Echo Player of the Season award, and this year’s is too close to call.

Despite a little wobble in form of late, this has been a marvellous campaign for the club with a team rebuilt by Ronald Koeman playing some hugely entertaining football.

The team have broken their Premier League points record, and could well surpass last season’s achievements by finishing in the top six and qualifying for Europe - if the final two games go their way.

Daily Echo: Ryan Bertrand

To be so effective obviously requires a massive team effort, but the Player of the Season award is always a chance to pick out those individuals who have particularly contributed to the club’s success.

Deciding who to vote for and who to bypass is going to be a dilemma for supporters.

It might prove hard to look too far beyond the defence, which has been the mainstay of Saints’ success.

Jose Fonte has been at the heart of it, having played in all but one game across all competitions this season, and captained the team superbly.

He, like Morgan Schneiderlin, could scoop the award for the second time, which would put him in an elite group which currently boasts just five players – Peter Shilton, Tim Flowers, Matt Le Tissier, James Beattie and Rickie Lambert – to have won the award on more than one occasion.

His central defensive partner for much for the season, Toby Alderweireld, will also attract many votes, though a couple of spells out injured and having to fill in in midfield has perhaps slightly dented his hopes.

The full backs have been among Saints’ best attacking weapons, with Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand having also excelled defensively.

Daily Echo: Victor Wanyama

Victor Wanyama and Schneiderlin have provided a wall in front of the back four, with the latter simply sublime for much of this campaign once again.

The attacking players are probably less likely to garner as many votes.

Graziano Pelle has led the line all season but his dry spell in front of goal might rule him out, and, while there have been many good performances, chopping and changing over the campaign and a certain amount of inconsistency, are likely to hit players in those roles.

So just who will join the likes of Mick Channon, Steve Williams and Kevin Keegan by taking the trophy?

That is for you, the fans, to decide.

Adam Leitch’s top three: 1) Jose Fonte 2) Toby Alderweireld 3) Ryan Bertrand