As the dust settles on a tumultuous nominations deadline for the Conservative leadership contest, the five candidates who made the ballot paper have begun the serious work of wooing colleagues.
They have until Tuesday to build sufficient support not only to survive the first round of voting - but hopefully to demonstrate an overwhelming momentum towards the final cut.
READ MORE: Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me - what a carry on as Boris is out
Whichever of the hopefuls proves least popular among their 329 colleagues is eliminated one at a time until just two remain for the wider party membership to choose between.
Bookmakers make Home Secretary Theresa May the odds-on favourite to be the next PM, with Justice Secretary Michael Gove the clear favourite to be her rival - and say Liam Fox will attract the fewest backers behind Andrea Leadsom and Stephen Crabb.
One pool of potential support that will be the focus of early attention will be those who had prematurely nailed their colours to the Boris Johnson mast before he dramatically abandoned his bid.
READ MORE: Michael Gove the 'Lord Macbeth' of the Commons, says Alex Salmond
Veteran MP Sir Nicholas Soames had swung behind Mr Johnson despite laying into him during the referendum campaign, saying a tie-up with Mr Gove would make a "top team".
But the Remain campaigner has now transferred his allegiance not to Mr Gove but to Mrs May.
Among the first to declare their support for the leading candidates were two senior figures who had been considering bids themselves - Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who is backing Mrs May and Education Secretary Nicky Morgan for Mr Gove.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson rules himself out of the running for the leadership of the Conservative Party
Commons leader Chris Grayling, despite being one of the most senior figures to vote for Brexit, has joined the May camp - sparking suggestions he could head up a new Whitehall department promised by her to lead negotiations with Brussels.
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