McCullum, rated by some as the best wicketkeeper-batsman in world cricket, is challenging for the men's award with world champion rower Hamish Bond and Paralympic skiing gold medallist Adam Hall.
McCullum has brought excitement to the Black Caps with his audacious batting and acrobatic keeping.
Bond won the coxless pairs title with Eric Murray at the world championships in Munich, two World Cups and three premier titles at the New Zealand championships. Bond and Murray were named team of the year at the Halberg Awards.
The others are Andrea Miller, who won a bronze medal in the 100m hurdles at the World University Games, and Alison Shanks, who finished fourth in the 3000m individual pursuit at the world cycling championships and was the top rider in the New Zealand team that won the team pursuit bronze medal in a world record time.
The nominations for the team of the year are the Otago University rowing eight, which competition in China, the North Otago cricket team, which won the Hawke Cup for the first time, and the Alexandra women's bowls team, which won the national interclub title.
The coach finalists are Raylene Bates (athletics), Craig Palmer (cycling) and Tom Willmott (snowboarding).
Awards for services to sport and innovation in sport will also be presented. The ASB-sponsored Otago sports awards have been organised by Sport Otago since they were revived in 1990.
A near-capacity guest list of 470 people will be attending the dinner, with the guest speaker being Rugby World Cup chief executive Martin Snedden.
Profits from the dinner go towards the Halberg Sport Opportunity programme which assists Otago children with disabilities to take part in sport and recreation.
An auction will be held to raise funds, with items including a limited edition of a photograph of the first pile being driven at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, an acoustic guitar signed by Bob Dylan and an Olympic picture signed by athlete knights Murray Halberg, Peter Snell and John Walker.
The judging panel is: Duane Donovan, non-voting chairman (Sport Otago), John Brimble (chief executive Sport Otago), Kereyn Smith (chief executive New Zealand Academy of Sport, South Island), Hayden Meikle (sports editor Otago Daily Times), Associate Prof Dr Dave Gerrard (University of Otago director of development and sports medicine authority), Alistair McMurran (sports writer Otago Daily Times).
Otago sports awards: The finalists
• Sportswoman: Tionette Stoddard (skeleton racing), Alison Shanks (cycling), Andrea Miller (athletics).
• Sportsman: Hamish Bond (rowing), Brendon McCullum (cricket), Adam Hall (disabled skiing).
• Team: Alexandra Bowling Club women's interclub sevens team, North Otago Hawke Cup cricket team, Otago University Longhu Cup rowing eight.
• Coach: Craig Palmer (cycling), Tom Willmott (snowboarding), Raylene Bates (athletics).
• Junior sportsperson: Jossi Wells (freeskiing), Kendall Brown (snowboarding), Duncan Croudis (golf).
• Other awards: Services to sport, innovation in sport.
