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The epic Game of Thrones returns in just a month! The final season is on the horizon, and there are plenty of rumours around what will occur in the final episodes.

If you haven't watched all seven seasons so far, then shame on you. But, be prepared for spoilers ahead!

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For a quick recap, many of the characters we meet in GoT belong to houses. Their family name is the house so House Lannister, House Stark, House Targaryen and so on. As the seasons continue, houses deplete and characters we believe belong to one house may actually belong to another.

Without further ado, here are the characters who have a stake in the Iron Throne.

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Jon Snow

Signs point to the Bastard Son of the North, Jon Snow, winning the Game of Thrones. Having won the Battle of the Bastards against the despicable Ramsey Bolton, Jon knows a thing or two about fighting in epic proportions.

In Season 7, Jon's focus has been on defeating the Night King, having met with Cersei to join forces with Daenerys to fend off the dead. In the final season, we're expecting Jon to finally be reunited with his sister Arya.

However, his new found relationship with the Mother of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen will be up in the air. Or, they'll make like Lannisters and continue their courtship. Samwell Tarly, a close friend of Snow, has discovered Jon's true lineage. Whilst he's spent his life believing he's a bastard son of Ned Stark "" father of Arya, Sansa and Bran "" this isn't the case. We'd seen before that Ned actually took on the son bore by his sister.

Jon's dad was revealed to be Rhaegar Targaryen. Rhaegar is the eldest Targaryen child, whose father was King, making him the heir to the Iron Throne. Rhaegar is murdered by Robert Baratheon who overthrows the House, ruling with his Queen Cersei. But key to this is that Rhaegar is brother to Daenerys. So, Daenerys has started a relationship with her nephew Jon, unknowingly.

Does his true heritage mean Jon will rightfully sit on the Iron Throne? Knowing this show, we wouldn't bet on it"¦

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Arya Stark

Jon Snow's younger sister Arya will hopefully see her brother once again "" she had been closer to her brother in her younger years, before starting her murderous streak. Jon helped her to fight, which will come in handy against the White Walkers.

After a long and lonely road, Arya was finally reunited with older sister Sansa in the previous season. Due to interference from Petyr Baelish, also known as Littlefinger, the two girls seem to be at loggerheads about the others behavior. Baelish has previous in meddling in other's lives, but he didn't bank on the two girls outsmarting him. Littlefinger begs for mercy, but it does not come "" Arya executes him following a public trial.

With House Stark reuniting, Arya Stark is also a top contender to win the Game of Thrones. She survived many murky encounters, has been knocking off her enemies with a certain degree of ease and her own fighting ability is unmatched compared to her siblings. Add to that list the fact she can take on the appearance of another to dupe her enemies, and her candidacy is stronger than most.

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Sansa Stark

The Lady of Winterfell grows considerably as a character over the course of the show. She appears as a naïve young girl in early episodes, even so when she marries Joffrey Baratheon "" and she's poles apart from younger sister Arya.

Having successfully gotten rid of instigator Petyr Baelish, Sansa will be able to flourish on her own in the coming season. The pair, along with their brother Bran, know they must band together if they are to survive the incoming winter.

Sansa's new-found strength could fare well for her as the tides get tougher in the upcoming episodes "" or it could expose her as not being well equipped for war at all. When it comes to claiming the Iron Throne, we just don't see Sansa having enough nerve for it.

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Bran Stark

Brandon Stark hasn't had the easiest time in the show, having been pushed out of a window in the opening episode when he discovered Cersei and Jaime's incestuous relationship. The attack meant Bran was paralysed from the waist down, requiring help from the loveable Hodor.

In Season 6, Bran's training that includes visions of the past with the Three-Eyed Raven helps to piece together key parts of the story so far. These visions are short and sweet to avoid Bran being trapped within them. It's in this season that Bran becomes the Three-Eyed Raven but he must learn to control his powers before the Night King's attack on the Seven Kingdoms. He sees the vision of Jon's true parentage long before Samwell makes the connection.

Bran's gift helps to bring down Petyr Baelish as Bran can see his betrayal of Ned Stark, Bran's father. He meets Samwell and declares that Jon Snow is rightful heir to the Iron Throne, which we expect is shared with Jon in the upcoming episodes. The Three-Eyed Raven and his unique gift will be key in the final season, we feel!

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Samwell Tarly

Sam's close relationship with Jon has been documented over the course of Game of Thrones. He's not a fighter, deemed to be weak, but he's much smarter than he's given credit for. It's Sam who puts Jon forward as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

When Sam is at the Citadel in season 7, he treats Jorah Mormont's greyscale disease, despite it being forbidden. He learns more about White Walkers and discovers the location of a large amount of dragonglass. He tells Jon of his discovery, who is now King in the North.

This isn't the only thing Sam discovers. He learns of Jon's background, making him rightful heir to the Iron Throne "" we expect this to come to light in the new season. We fear for Sam's ability to survive what's due to come; but if he's digging into the White Walkers and their past, he might just stumble upon some vital pieces of information.

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Daenerys Targaryen

Khaleesi, The Mother of Dragons, Protector of the Realm, Daenerys Targaryen "" whatever you call her, she's got her sights set on that throne. She's changed perceptions of herself and her leadership as her story has progressed, leading up to claiming the Iron Throne. She builds a strong team around her, including the ever-faithful Missandei and Jorah Mormont. Plus, she's got dragons which are pretty useful in overcoming your enemies.

The threat of the Night King is enough for Khaleesi to join forces with Jon to fight. But, she's going to have some trouble along the way. She doesn't yet know that the Night King has revived her dragon Viserion who will give the White Walkers a significant advantage in battle. She is also yet to learn of her blood relation to Jon.

It's going to be a tough road but Daenerys has proven herself continuously. She's definitely still in the running to claim the Iron Throne as her leadership qualities are arguably the strongest of the lot. The dragons are a plus "" if they can overcome the now dead dragon that's given a helping hand to the Night King.

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Cersei Lannister

The life work of Cersei Lannister seems to always have been focused on leadership. Like Daenerys, she believes she's powerful enough to reign and has kept herself in touching distance of ruling throughout.

Cersei has been through hell and back which will only make her stronger as battle commences. All three of her children have died, as did her husband and her father. She's had power but has also had to claw it back once its been taken away from her.

This time around, Cersei is pregnant with another child by her twin Jaime. She has learned that the death of her beloved son Joffrey was at the hand of the Tyrells "" the family that married into her own, as Joffrey wed Margaery Tyrell before she wed his younger brother Tommen. Olenna admits to Jaime that she poisoned Joffrey, expressing that she wants Cersei to know it was her doing.

It's also Jaime who tells Cersei to consider a ceasefire as House Lannister is not strong enough to defeat its enemies. Her other brother Tyrion, who has been advising Daenerys, further explains the impending threat from the White Walkers and convinces her to ally with her enemies.

The ceasefire is all a front, as she explains to Jaime, she'll pit her enemies against each other then take on the victor for the crown. She's alone in her uphill battle for the Iron Throne, with Jaime leaving her and Tyrion working with Daenerys, so she'll have a difficult time trying to claim the throne. But maybe that's all part of her plan and she will reign victorious after all.

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Who do you think will take the Iron Throne? Shop refurbished phones and brush up on your Game of Thrones knowledge before the final season premieres!