• Catch up on all of Ben Pobjie's MasterChef 2022 recaps

The willingness of MasterChef, the fairy godmother of Australian reality TV, to tweak its formula while maintaining the fundamentals of its appeal has led it to an intriguing setup in its 14th season.

In the Fans versus Favourites format, for the first time former contestants – including three previous champions – are putting their culinary skills up against a band of eager first-timers. The Fans get to meet their heroes and hopefully beat them, while the Faves get a chance to either seek redemption for falling short last time or show the rookies who's boss.

The new season has only just started, but already some cooks – on both the Fans and Faves sides – have stamped themselves as frontrunners. At this early stage (and with fingers crossed that they're not eliminated before you read this), who look like the cooks to beat?

On the Faves side, it's no surprise that Julie Goodwin, the winner of season one and true love of all MasterChef diehards, has looked good from the get-go – at least, it's no surprise to us. To Julie herself it seems slightly more surprising: self-belief isn't exactly her strong suit. In every cook she expresses how nervous she is and how intimidating she finds the skilful people all around her… and then knocks it out of the park. She looks every chance to keep fretting and underrating herself all the way to the final.

Season 10 champ Sashi Cheliah is another one flexing his muscles early on. After winning MasterChef, Sashi opened his own restaurant, and the confidence he's built by his success in the industry is on show now he's returned to the MasterChef set. Sashi is the alpha male in the kitchen, and even the cockiest of fans is liable to quail in the face of his menacing curries.

If Harry can win an immunity pin with burnt cabbage, imagine what she'll do with real food.

Among the other Faves, Tommy Pham, the ever-cheerful master of Vietnamese food who brightened the days in 2021's edition, looks every chance to make up for what seemed like an underperformance, relative to his ability, last year. Then there's Michael Weldon, who only just failed to grab the trophy in season three and has returned to go one better with steely resolve. While Tommy's charm can cause opponents to let their guard down, Michael is more the type to crush rivals with ruthless efficiency. There's also Christina Batista, who has an immunity pin on her apron and should therefore, unless she's really reckless, stick around a while.

One would expect the Faves, with their experience of the competition – and in many cases of the hectic food industry outside the show – to have a natural edge over the Fans. But already there are several newbies who would have the bookies slashing their odds, taking to the televised kitchen like a penguin to water.

Melbourne barista Harry Tomlinson was forced to develop skill with cooking vegetables because of a lack of money when she was growing up. We know this because she's mentioned it several times in every episode so far. But despite mostly cooking without protein (ie. the good part of food), Harry has blown the judges away. If she can win an immunity pin with burnt cabbage, imagine what she'll do with real food. Definitely one to watch, especially since she's been taking up so much screentime that producers are clearly heavily invested in her story.

As is Montana Hughes, a TikTok influencer who is, via her popular online videos, essentially already a celebrity chef. She may be a fan, but she's no amateur – she knows what she's doing and she's as comfortable as anyone with cooking on camera. Everyone is aware that she's one to beat.

Elsewhere among the Fans, there could be a dark horse in Steph Woon, who comes off as shy and retiring but who the show seems eager to set up as "the cake queen" – anyone who gets earmarked with a specialty can be expected to last a while. Also, no-nonsense Scot Ali Stoner has shown a propensity for organisation and calmness under pressure that could well see her excel.

These are the cooks who look likely to impress with their dishes at this early stage – though there are always the slow starters who grow into their roles. But who among the Fans of season 22 are likely to become the Faves of tomorrow? Who is destined to be a darling of the audience and win hearts such that we'll want them back, even if they flame out?

The clear standout in this regard is Keyma Vasquez Montero, an effervescent Venezuelan who has thus far made the most of her limited screentime to showcase a big magnetic personality – with the added plus of specialising in South American cuisine, one of the less common styles on the show.

You can also expect a lot of cheers for Daniel Lamble, the Northern Territory fireman who has secured for himself the "loveable ordinary Aussie bloke" slot for this year. Also keep an eye on Chris Tran, who bursts with enthusiasm and is never lost for words, making a play early on for a "prime narrator" position.

As for the rest, it will be a scramble, as always, to try to make their mark among the two-dozen-strong lineup – as the Fans make a play for fame and the Faves try to make us remember who they used to be. There's big money up for grabs, but even more there's the love of the Australian public to be won, and that is a trophy that'll take more than a well-balanced jus to take home.

Follow Ben Pobjie's unmissable MasterChef recaps on goodfood.com.au