The 65th BBC Sports Personality of the Year award will be presented in Birmingham on Sunday night.
For the first time in the competition's history, the final shortlist will be revealed on the evening of the ceremony before going to a public vote.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at the main contenders.
Harry Kane (Football)
The England captain, 25, spearheaded his country's unexpected march to the semi-finals of the World Cup. Kane hit six goals in Russia to become the first Englishman to win the tournament's golden boot since Gary Lineker in 1990.
Geraint Thomas (Cycling)
The 32-year-old Welshman won the Tour de France in style to continue recent British domination of the race. Following in the footsteps of fellow Team Sky riders Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, Thomas finished a minute and 51 seconds ahead of Holland's Tom Dumoulin.
Lewis Hamilton (Formula One)
Hamilton is a regular contender for the award, winning it in 2014, in addition to second-placed finishes in 2007 and 2008. The Mercedes driver lifted his fifth championship title in 2018, joining an elite club alongside F1 greats Juan Fangio and Michael Schumacher.
Tyson Fury (Boxing)
With his recent drawn fight against WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder at the forefront of sport's fans minds, Fury has been installed among the favourites by bookmakers. The 30-year-old battled back from serious mental health issues to return to the ring.
Dina Asher-Smith (Athletics)
Sprinter Asher-Smith has turned potential into tangible success in 2018. The 23-year-old Londoner won 200m bronze and 4x100m relay gold at the Commonwealth Games. She improved her own national records in picking up European gold in both the 100m and 200m, and won another gold in the 4x100m relay
Lizzy Yarnold (Skeleton)
Britain's most successful Winter Olympian, Yarnold was Team GB's flagbearer in South Korea. She overcame dizzy spells and a chest infection to retain gold in the skeleton having contemplated pulling out.
Adam Peaty (Swimming)
Peaty defended his Commonwealth Games 100m breatstroke title in Australia, before winning a further four gold medals at the European Championships. He also broke his own 100m breaststroke record in Glasgow.
Ronnie O'Sullivan (Snooker)
'The Rocket' has emerged as a late, albeit outside, contender for the award. O'Sullivan captured a record seventh UK Championship by beating Mark Allen in York earlier this month, underlining his undoubted place among the sport's greats.
Alastair Cook (Cricket)
Former England captain Cook, who retired from international cricket this year, made a magnificent century during his final Test match to finish his career as the fifth-highest run scorer in Test history.
Jonathan Rea (Motor cycling)
An unexpected runner-up for the award last year, Northern Irishman Rea retained his World Superbikes title to become the first man to win four successive championships. He also registered the 60th race win of his career, surpassing Carl Fogarty.
