1. Baruto — make or break
This will be the big story at the Hatsu Basho starting on the 13th. The Estonian giant — 187 kg and 197 cm — lost his ozeki rank at last November's tournament down in Fukuoka and only a 10-5 result or better this time out will do to secure promotion back to ozeki. Anything less and he will need to start from the beginning as a sekiwake with around 32 or 33 wins over the course of three basho.
As amiable as the man himself is, and as much a fan-fave as he has become over the years his star is now on the wane after peaking in January 2012, when he won his first, and likely last Emperor's Cup. A series of niggling injuries to his legs and upper body that just won't seem to go away will catch up with him and condemn him to maegashira mediocrity for the remainder of his career is the consensus of many fans.