Otago United will probably start the New Zealand Football Championship without two players who picked up major trophies at the Footballsouth awards on Friday night.
Andy Coburn and Aaron Burgess are both unlikely to start, with Golden Boot winner Burgess unavailable due to work commitments.
Coburn may yet sign for United but has still to serve a two-match suspension from the last NZFC season, and cricket during the summer is also an attraction for the versatile sportsman.
"I would like to do both, ideally," Coburn said.
"Since the NZFC matches are on Sundays, cricket is still a possibility, but my suspensions will cause me to miss the first two national league matches," he said.
Coburn picked up the top trophy, for being named sportsman of the year, at the annual Footballsouth awards, which were handed out at the Savoy in Dunedin.
The popular left-sided midfielder has been a vital cog in Dunedin Technical's winter season, which finished with a stirring win in the final of the South Island Football Championship.
Coburn is a driving force in the team and also chips in with important goals.
He has scored 14 in his past two seasons with Technical, although he is not as prolific as team-mate Burgess, who scored 32 goals this season.
Burgess' haul in the Footballsouth Premier League earned him the Golden Boot trophy this year.
Not content with quantity, the Invercargill-born striker also scored several goals of the highest quality.
New Otago United coach Malcolm Fleming will have an uphill task in the NZFC without Burgess, Coburn, Colin Falvey, Blair Scoullar, Stu Kelly, Tom Jackson and Liam Little.
But there are several youngsters who have already played at the top level, including Tristan Prattley, winner of the young player of the year award.
The national league starts on November 1.
Women's award winners Amber Mulhall-Larsen (player of the year) and Caitlin Fitchett (young player of the year) look set to be key members of the Footballsouth team that will compete against Canterbury in the first women's national league match on October 24.
Another likely participant at top level in the summer will be referee of the year Dave Langley, who has attracted praise from all sectors for his control on the field.
Steve Fleming earned the coach of the year award by guiding Caversham to yet another league title, and Sally Hicks (Mosgiel) won the women's coach of the year award.
Other awards were: personality, Squib Foster; women's personality, Liz Dijkstra; assistant referee, Jack Cowie; most promising referee, Rebecca Laurie; masters player, Colin Hillerby.
