Rayners, who returned to Sundowns from Stellenbosch last August, has enjoyed a prolific season in front of goal. He scored his 13th league goal in Sunday's 3-0 victory over his former club at Lucas Moripe Stadium, keeping him just one behind league top scorer Lucas Ribeiro.

"He is a contender for Player of the Season - he has to be," Barker said post-match. "Look at the goals, the assists… He's a key player. There's no doubt that the Player of the Season must come from Sundowns."

Rayners has also racked up nine league assists, putting him second only to Sekhukhune United's Keletso Makgalwa (11) in that department.

While Barker is backing Rayners, he also acknowledged that Sundowns boast multiple strong contenders for the league's top individual honour.

"They've got a few candidates - Ribeiro has had a really good season, and a player like Marcelo Allende has been influential as well," said Barker.

Ribeiro leads the scoring charts and has also contributed double-digit assists, while Allende has been pivotal in Sundowns' midfield, dictating tempo and creating chances consistently throughout the campaign.

Despite their defeat, Barker believes some of his own players are worthy of individual recognition. He highlighted defenders Thabo Moloisane, Fawaaz Basadien, and Ismael Toure as potential nominees for Defender of the Season.

"Before today, we had only conceded 17 goals in the league. I felt that we have some really strong candidates," Barker said. "Conceding three today wasn't part of the plan, but I still trust that our defenders deserve to be nominated."

The loss to Sundowns dealt a blow to Stellenbosch's hopes of securing a second consecutive berth in the CAF Confederation Cup. They remain fourth on the log, one point behind third-placed Sekhukhune United, with two crucial fixtures remaining - against SuperSport United (away) and Cape Town City (home) on May 24.

With CAF qualification still in reach and individual awards up for grabs, Barker and his squad will be looking to finish the season on a high.

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