LONDON.- Dr Andrew Sayers from Australia is a hot contender to head London's National Portrait Gallery (NPG). In London, the innovative Dr Charles Saumarez Smith, 47, was confirmed as leaving the NPG to head the National Gallery, after Dr Neil MacGregor moved to the top post at the British Museum. Now the international Art Newspaper has named Sayers as a possible replacement at the NPG, with Dulwich Picture Gallery's director, Desmond Shawe-Taylor, his main competition. Sayers, 44, is London-born, although he has lived in Australia since the age of seven. Sayers has worked closely with his British counterpart to bring exhibitions from London to Canberra, including the Best of British selection from the British NPG collection and the Polly Borland: Australians photography show last March.