HOUSTON -- While discussing right field, general manager Tim Purpura is careful not to play favorites.

Three candidates will head to Spring Training prepared to fight for the starting job at the only outfield position available, and while Luke Scott appears to have the best chance, clearly, Purpura envisions some healthy competition when position players report to Kissimmee, Fla., next month.

The candidates are Scott, Richard Hidalgo and Jason Lane. Is it Scott's job to lose? Probably, but Purpura was diplomatic while addressing the options.

"[Scott] certainly came on board and did a nice job offensively," Purpura said. "He worked hard in the outfield to improve his play. He is definitely a legitimate contender for that role. In some ways, he's the leading candidate. He had a good offensive year, albeit not a full year. And he can certainly play the position defensively."

Scott, 28, was called up after the All-Star break in 2006 and it wasn't long before he was a permanent fixture in the lineup. He hit .385 in the second half of July and .389 in August, bumping Preston Wilson to the bench and, eventually, off the team.

Things evened out a bit in September when Scott hit .268, but his .336 average and 10 home runs in a half-season's work was enough to ensure the Astros wouldn't forget about him while constructing the 2007 club.

Heartbroken last March when he was sent to Minor League camp toward the end of Spring Training, Scott will likely face a much happier ending this time. But he'll have competition in Hidalgo and Lane, who will probably end up fighting for bench roles.

For much of the winter, the competition for right field appeared to be between Scott and Lane. But Hidalgo's solid run through winter ball, during which he displayed improved bat speed and plate discipline, convinced Purpura to give Hidalgo an invitation to Spring Training. If Hidalgo makes the club, it'll be his first taste of the big leagues in nearly two years.

Lane also has some catching up to do. He struggled mightily in 2006, barely maintaining a .200 batting average while dealing with inconsistent playing time when he lost his starting job less than halfway through the season.

And while Scott made the most of his half-season, he has yet to put in a full big-league season.

Houston Astros • Catchers: One more time for Ausmus • Corner IF: Questions at third base • Middle IF: More rest for Biggio • Outfielders: Competition in RF • Starters: Oswalt provides stability • Bullpen: Spring could bring changes • DH/Bench: Training camp will decide

In other words, everyone has something to prove this spring.

"The nod for experience goes to [Hidalgo], the nod for the most recent productive performance goes to Luke, and Lane had a down year last year but has shown he can play the position in the past," Purpura said. "First, we have to determine who's our right fielder, then who are our fourth- and fifth-type guys."

Only one backup role is likely to be available. Orlando Palmeiro will return as the fourth outfielder, leaving one spot open.

As for the other two outfield positions, they're taken. Second-baseman-in-waiting Chris Burke will begin the season in center field, and now that Mark Loretta is available to spell Craig Biggio, it's likely Burke won't hop back and forth from center to second. Purpura and manager Phil Garner have agreed that Burke would benefit from the consistency of playing just one position, and it looks like the most spacious area of Minute Maid Park is reserved for the 26-year-old Burke.

While Burke won't be making any awe-inspiring throws a la his predecessor, Willy Taveras, Purpura isn't concerned with any lack of arm strength the natural infielder would bring to his new position.

"The vastness of center field tends to negate the arm strength issue," Purpura said. "Arm accuracy is much more important than arm strength. It's more important to hit the cutoff man."

Carlos Lee, the Astros' first $100 million man, is the final piece to the outfield puzzle. He'll take over in left field, bringing much-needed power to a corner position.

"Obviously, we're excited about it," Purpura said. "We're anxious to see what he can do."