Rayners, who returned to Sundowns from Stellenbosch last August, has enjoyed a prolific season in front of goal. He scored his 13th league goal in Sunday's 3-0 victory over his former club at Lucas Moripe Stadium, keeping him just one behind league top scorer Lucas Ribeiro.
"He is a contender for Player of the Season - he has to be," Barker said post-match. "Look at the goals, the assists… He's a key player. There's no doubt that the Player of the Season must come from Sundowns."
Rayners has also racked up nine league assists, putting him second only to Sekhukhune United's Keletso Makgalwa (11) in that department.
While Barker is backing Rayners, he also acknowledged that Sundowns boast multiple strong contenders for the league's top individual honour.
"They've got a few candidates - Ribeiro has had a really good season, and a player like Marcelo Allende has been influential as well," said Barker.
Ribeiro leads the scoring charts and has also contributed double-digit assists, while Allende has been pivotal in Sundowns' midfield, dictating tempo and creating chances consistently throughout the campaign.
Despite their defeat, Barker believes some of his own players are worthy of individual recognition. He highlighted defenders Thabo Moloisane, Fawaaz Basadien, and Ismael Toure as potential nominees for Defender of the Season.
"Before today, we had only conceded 17 goals in the league. I felt that we have some really strong candidates," Barker said. "Conceding three today wasn't part of the plan, but I still trust that our defenders deserve to be nominated."
The loss to Sundowns dealt a blow to Stellenbosch's hopes of securing a second consecutive berth in the CAF Confederation Cup. They remain fourth on the log, one point behind third-placed Sekhukhune United, with two crucial fixtures remaining - against SuperSport United (away) and Cape Town City (home) on May 24.
With CAF qualification still in reach and individual awards up for grabs, Barker and his squad will be looking to finish the season on a high.
Mamelodi Sundowns are just one point away from clinching their 18th league title as they prepare to face Chippa United on Wednesday at the Buffalo City Municipality Stadium in East London.
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Gaston Sirino has thrown his weight behind a former Mamelodi Sundowns teammate as the standout performer of the 2024/25 season, naming him as his pick for the PSL Footballer of the Season.
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has outlined his condition to remain at the club beyond the current season, amid growing speculation surrounding his future.
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has expressed his frustration over what he feels is a lack of appreciation for his efforts at the club since his arrival in December.
