Al Roker and Craig Melvin may be all smiles on camera, but behind the scenes at Today, sources claim the two NBC stars are quietly battling over who should become the show’s dominant face.

Melvin reportedly stood firmly by Roker following the frightening attempt on Roker’s life, but insiders say that support has not stopped a growing competition between the longtime colleagues.

With Savannah Guthrie away from the show, sources claim her absence has created an opening at the top — and both Roker and Melvin appear eager to fill it.

“Savannah’s absence has created a vacuum, and someone has to lead the show,” one NBC insider told RadarOnline.com. “Craig and Al both want to be that person.”

According to the report, Melvin has increasingly been placed at the center of major Today broadcasts, giving him more opportunities to establish himself as one of the program’s leading personalities.

Roker, however, reportedly believes his decades-long relationship with viewers makes him the obvious choice for a bigger leadership role.

And while there may be no obvious tension when the cameras are rolling, insiders claim both men are paying very close attention to who gets the biggest opportunities.

“The guys are warm and friendly on camera, but they’re absolutely keeping score,” one source claimed. “Every segment, every major interview, every high-profile assignment matters.”

Roker certainly has seniority on his side.

The beloved weatherman officially joined Today in January 1996 and has now spent roughly three decades as one of the most recognizable personalities on morning television.

Melvin is the relative newcomer by comparison, joining Today as a weekday news anchor in August 2018. But during his nearly eight years with the show, he has steadily taken on a larger and more prominent role.

That could make the reported competition increasingly important as NBC considers what the next era of Today will look like.

For longtime viewers, Roker represents familiarity, stability and decades of history with the show. Melvin, meanwhile, has emerged as one of NBC’s most prominent younger anchors and appears increasingly positioned for a major role in the program’s future.

For now, viewers may continue seeing plenty of friendly banter between the two men.

But according to insiders, behind those smiles is a much more serious battle over who gets the biggest interviews, the most important assignments — and ultimately, the chance to become the face of Today.