ONLY a select few players can lay claim to being a superstar of the AFL competition.

Could North Melbourne hard nut Ben Cunnington be the next to reach the highest echelon?

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Kangaroos coach Rhyce Shaw believes his two-time club best and fairest is raring to go in 2020, and will be a key part of a midfield which Champion Data recently rated second in the League.

Cunnington is already coming off a career-best season, averaging 26.6 disposals, with a relatively unique breakdown of 8.6 kicks and 18.0 handballs per game.

But Shaw has revealed the 28yo mid  - who has always had questions over his fitness and endurance - has worked extremely hard over the summer and his match simulation form has been exceptional 

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"Ben's a superstar, an underrated superstar; he goes under the radar a lot of the time," Shaw told radio station SEN.

"He's a fantastic AFL footballer. Ben's worked really hard – as all the great players do, they're trying to find ways to get better all the time – and Ben's really pushed himself this pre-season.

"His form in our match [simulation] and game sense drills is second to none, so I'm looking forward to seeing what Ben can produce early on in the season.

"I think he's someone that we're going to rely on pretty heavily and hopefully he can take us a fair way."