| JAKE HUMPHREY ON BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2009 I'll be in Sheffield this weekend when the Sports Personality of the Year juggernaught rolls into the city and this year's award looks to be as hard to call as ever.
Three years ago the nation thought Darren Clarke would win it, but Zara Phillips took the crown. Twelve months later Joe Calzaghe upset the odds, and last year I remember everyone telling me Lewis Hamilton was the winner - but people hadn't reckoned on the power of the Olympic stars, particularly Sir Chris Hoy, who has been an excellent ambassador for the award.
So how do you split world champions Jenson Button, Tom Daley, Jessica Ennis, Phillips Idowu and Beth Tweddle?
Does Ryan Giggs deserve it for such a stunning year on the football pitch? How about the fact we've once more got a heavyweight champion of the world in the shape of our very own David 'versus Goliath' Haye?
Then there's cycling star Mark Cavendish, Ashes-winning England cricket captain Andrew Strauss, and world tennis number four Andy Murray.
Thankfully, I only have two hours of live TV in an 11,000-seat arena to worry about, not the much more daunting challenge of picking a winner!
Talking of the arena, once again we've escaped the confines of Television Centre and I'll be on the train to Sheffield as Sports Personality arrives in a sporting city that is well deserving of hosting such a prestigious evening.
In fact, we're live at the Sheffield Arena, home of the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team. Let's hope the atmosphere doesn't heat the arena up too much as I don't want to swim to where Beth Tweddle is sitting!
Enjoy the show,
Jake
P.S. I'll be posting regular updates and sneaky backstage photos via my Twitter account during the build-up to the big night. Follow me at www.twitter.com/jakehumphreyf1.
Jake Humphrey presents coverage of BBC Sports Personality of the Year with Gary Lineker and Sue Barker on BBC One on Sunday. | 
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