Athletics: Plenty of favourites to proudly hoist the nation's banner

The world is full of great questions to exercise powerful minds. Pondering the identity of the flag carrier for Wednesday's Commonwealth Games opening ceremony is not among them.

Still, it's one of those traditional early curiosities as teams assemble ahead of the start of activities.

The Australians are backing an emotional selection in walker Jane Saville to do the job for the hosts.

Saville, remember, was the luckless athlete red-flagged out of the Olympic walk at Sydney six years ago as she headed for the final lap into the stadium well ahead of the field.

She's chasing her third successive gold at her fourth Games.

As for New Zealand, the choice rests with chef de mission Dave Currie.

He will announce his flagbearer at a function tomorrow night.

The Winter Olympics team got flak for giving the opening and closing flag jobs in Turin last month to curler Sean Becker. Once was fine; twice, given the fact they were complete flops on the rink, was not.

So who would be in a wide frame this time round? There are obvious candidates.

Cyclist Greg Henderson won gold and bronze in Manchester four years ago and won his world scratch race title in Melbourne two years ago.

If Henderson was the pick, it would make it four Commonwealth Games in succession where the New Zealand team was led into the stadium by a peddler. Brian Fowler did the honours in 1994, Graeme Miller in 1998 and Sarah Ulmer at Manchester.

And there's no reason why Ulmer, who ranks as New Zealand's supreme athletic achiever competing in Melbourne as world and Olympic champion, could not be asked to back up a second time. It wouldn't be the first time that's happened. Wrestler Dave Aspin had the flag at consecutive Olympics, in 1972 and 1976.

Then there's Rowan Brassey, preparing for a remarkable sixth Commonwealth Games, or fellow bowler, triple world champion Sharon Sims.

Or Greg Yelavich, the Auckland pistol shooter, who is also on his sixth-time round, and he's got a fine record of two gold medals, three silver and five bronze.

What about Olympic triathlon champion Hamish Carter? Or, for a more youthful touch, shot putter Valerie Vili, who won silver in Manchester, bronze at the last world champs and top ranked in Melbourne.

Rugby's sevens are chasing a third successive Games gold medal, so how about captain Tafai Ioasa?

And if Currie's preference is for a woman leading the way, what about netball's deadeye shooter Irene van Dyk? Or 200-plus cap Black Sticks captain Suzie Muirhead?

It's all ifs and buts until tomorrow night and the secret is guarded as tightly as the Crusaders tryline.

A punt? Henderson to carry on the two-wheeled tradition.

The sentimental tip? Brassey or Yelavich.