Just two places are left in the New Zealand team heading to the World Shearing and Wool-handling Championships in Ireland in May.
Top shearers Rowland Smith and John Kirkpatrick are in, while Joel Henare and Ronnie Goss have also qualified as wool-handlers.
The two blade shearing representatives have yet to qualify but Shearing Sports New Zealand spokesperson Doug Laing says Tony Dobbs and Mike McConnell are the hot favourites to fill the spots.
"The two front-runners are almost certain to be selected (and) there's just one more show to go," he says.
"They'd have to not turn up basically to miss out now."
