Prime Minister Tony Abbott is having a rough week.

From Monday, when he announced he planned to make ageing, gaffe-prone Prince Philip a Knight of the Order of Australia, it’s been wall-to-wall bad coverage for the PM.

As news.com.au reported yesterday, he basically has no friends left.

And while his job is probably safe for now, the rumblings from the back bench have started, and some of his cabinet colleagues are popping their heads up to remind us all that they’re ready to take over should the PM fall under the proverbial bus.

So who are these likely heirs to the throne? Realistically, there are only a few candidates who could take over the top job.

JULIE BISHOP

Strengths: The current deputy Liberal leader is odds-on favourite with the bookies to be the next Liberal leader whenever the time comes.

As John Howard likes to say, politics is all about the numbers, and Bishop has the numbers with the voters. Thanks to her handling of the MH17 crisis and a relatively smooth run as Foreign Minister, she’s the most popular cabinet minister in the government.

If her colleagues want to win an election, they’ll go with her.

Weaknesses: Could she handle a return to the rough-and-tumble of domestic politics? Anyone who remembers her time as Shadow Treasurer in 2008 might say no.

Who wants her to run? Anyone in the party who can’t stomach Malcolm Turnbull, anyone who wants to win the next election.

Who doesn’t want her to run? Bill Shorten and any Liberal who wants to be PM.

Would she run? This is her best shot to win, so probably, yes.

Fun fact: Bishop has been deputy to the last three Liberal leaders. Always the bridesmaid, this time the bride?

MALCOLM TURNBULL

Strengths: Consistently popular in the electorate across the moderate left and right, Turnbull rules the middle ground of Australian politics. He is the polar opposite of Tony Abbott — thoughtful, urbane and a republican.

A recent poll by 7News and ReachTEL shows 44% of voters prefer Turnbull as Liberal leader, making him by far the most popular alternative. (Julie Bishop sits on 30%)

Looks great in a leather jacket.

Weaknesses:His party hates him, especially the conservatives, who might try to tear him down as they did in 2009.

Who wants him to run? Malcolm Turnbull, ‘small L’ liberals, people on the left who think Malcolm is secretly one of them.

Who doesn’t want him to run? Conservatives in his party, conservatives in the media, the Labor Party because he would win.

Would he run? Probably, although his leadership ambitions seem to have quietened down in the last few years.

Fun fact: Invented the internet

SCOTT MORRISON

Strengths: Performed exceptionally well in his role as Immigration Minister and is now being given the chance to do the same in Social Services. He’s a competent minister and probably the government’s best communicator.

Weaknesses: He’s just not very likable. The joy he seems to take in punishing asylum seekers is a winner in Liberal heartland but many on the left and in the centre — where elections are won — can’t stomach him.

Who wants him to run? The conservative wing of his party. Probably Tony Abbott if the PM had to make a choice.

Who doesn’t want him to run? Moderates in his party

Would he run? Almost certainly, yes. Even if it was just to stake his claim for any future leadership battles.

Fun fact: Recently started tweeting again after a 16-month break. Probably because some young whippersnapper in his office said it’s a good way to communicate with ‘the yoof’, which you need to do if you want to be PM.

Let's go sharks — Hon. Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 20, 2013

JOE HOCKEY

Strengths: Joe was really, really likable right up until he became Treasurer. His past appearances on Sunrise show he can connect with the electorate. He’s an experienced minister in both the Howard and Abbott governments, so he knows his way around parliament.

Weaknesses: Have you been paying attention for the last year? Joe Hockey has had a rough time since the budget. A budget seen by many as unfair, constant gaffes and a tin ear have seen his standing in the community plummet. Realistically his hopes of leading the party are probably gone for quite a while.

Who wants him to run? JoeHockey does. Just check out his authorised biography by Madonna King — It’s basically a job application.

Who doesn’t want him to run? Almost everybody else

Would he run? He has run before and he desperately wants it. But if a leadership ballot was held tomorrow, probably not.

Fun fact: Once got stoned on the Kokoda Track (by accident) as Kochie and Kevin Rudd watched on.

KEVIN ANDREWS

Strengths: The high profile Howard government minister is experienced in government thanks to a long run in the former PM’s cabinet, but that’s about it. He’s only on this list because he had a crack once before and no one saw it coming that time either.

Weaknesses: Has long been seen as dead wood in the Abbott cabinet, and was moved to the graveyard ministry of Defence in the PM’s pre-Christmas reshuffle. No one has seen him smile in years.

Who wants him to run?Literally no one, probably not even Kevin Andrews.

Who doesn’t want him to run? See above

Would he run? No

Fun fact: Would be our first dead wood Prime Minister since Harold Holt.