If asked to name a favorite to win the May 11-25 Natsu Basho at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, not many sumo fans will be looking beyond the obvious yokozuna duo of Hakuho and Asashoryu.

And why should they?

Over the past fortnight of practice sessions, none of the four ozeki have really stood out ahead of the year's second Tokyo basho, although Kokonoe Beya's ozeki, Chiyotaikai, has been putting a lot of practice into his initial clash tachiai as well as his trademark tsuparri thrusting attacks in recent days.