By Sarah Ferris, The Hill.

The head-to-head contest for the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee will hinge Wednesday on the man who last held the powerful panel’s gavel: newly minted Speaker Paul Ryan.

Reps. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio) have been in a tight, two-man battle for the gavel since Ryan’s ascension. After repeatedly refusing to reveal his pick, the Wisconsin Republican is expected to cast the deciding votes, marking one of his first major decisions as the top House leader.

Both contenders will make their final plea Wednesday afternoon to the 33 members of the House Republican Steering Committee they have each courted intensely over the last week.