He is expected to support his board members Chris Abell and Ken Boundy, John Keniry and Robyn Clubb.

The last three were independently appointed to the board earlier this year after it was decided to expand the board to nine members.

If topmaker Laurence Modiano decides to run, he will join Meredith Sheil, Will Roberts, David Webster and George Falkiner in contesting the available seats.

With the national flock at an 85-year low, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and wool production at similar ebb, vision for the future of wool and the skills offered by individuals are expected to be issues to be voted on.

In a recent letter to members, WoolProducers Australia states it is particularly concerned with certain directors who are "unable to give their support to the chair".

WPA executive director Greg Weller adds "the choice for shareholders will be a simple one".

"To support moving our industry company further towards a mature, professional business with independent directors, which promotes our fibre to the world and delivers on farm innovation."

Countering this is the Australian Wool Growers Association, which has placed its support behind the five alternate candidates based on what it says is the poor management of the present board over an extended period of time.

"Brian van Rooyen and Chris Abell have been at AWI for some six years and have achieved very little for woolgrowers. They have been distracted from the main game of demand creation by their mishandling of mulesing and now the mulesing alternatives they seem desperate to create," president Martin Oppenheimer said.