Sheffield United v Leeds
Championship – 12.30 pm
SkySports

The Championship gets off to a cracking start on Saturday lunchtime because there is a game for all of the marbles going down. Well, at least what could be temporary marbles. The winner of Sheffield United v Leeds game early on Saturday will jump to the top of the Championship, which is a good way for someone to start the weekend. Leeds will actually get up to the top with a point while Sheffield United would have to win by three goals. The Blades are unbeaten in their last eight at Bramall Lane.

Leeds have won three of their last four league games and have not been too shabby on the road at all with a W4 D3 L2 record on their travels this season. Those two defeats have both come in their last three away games though which is worth noting. Leeds have won away at two of the current top-seven so far and this looks like being an even duel. Both have scored 32 league goals each this season (bettered only by West Brom and Aston Villa) while Leeds shade the defensive record between the two. Both sides are at odds-against prices with the top bookmakers for the game. It should be a rousing occasion up north in this Yorkshire derby, and it is a big spotlight feature in the Best Bets of the Day.

Saracens v Wasps
Premiership Rugby – 3.00 pm
BTSport

Saracens have been the only ones who have been able to match the power of the Exeter Chiefs in this season’s Premiership. They get a chance at home on Saturday to keep up the pressure as they welcome Wasps to the Allianz Park. Saracens are eight wins from eight so far and heading into the weekend of action on match day nine, they are the top scorers in the entire division. Will that immense attacking power that they have, notably through the finishing power of Alex Eglinton and Liam Williams along with the kicking accuracy of Owen Farrell, be able to keep up the winning momentum?

This is actually a top-three clash with Wasps sitting third in the table. However, there is a gulf in points between the two clubs with Saracens holding a fourteen point lead over Saturday’s opponents. But four points (plus any bonus) for Wasps in such a difficult away game would, of course, be a win of great magnitude for them. It would also keep them strong in the top four, the race for a European Rugby Champions Cup place next season. It’s an uphill task for them as 6/1 underdogs at leading bookmakers, but Wasps won that epic game against the Men in Black on the final day of the 2016/17 season.

Southampton v Man Utd
Premier League – 5.30 pm
BTSport

Manchester United are now closer to the bottom of the league in terms of points than they are to the top of it. Last weekend they disappointed once again in front of their home support as they played out a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace. They can’t quite seem to find their feet and consistency. Away from home overall this term in the top flight United have posted a W3 D1 L3 record. But will the Red Devils get a reprieve on the weekend as they make the journey south to take on Southampton who are in heaps of trouble?

Boss Mark Hughes could well be heading out of the door if no points are gained in this home fixture. The Saints are winless in nine league outings now and start the weekend down in the relegation zone. With bottom side Fulham have made a managerial change and gotten immediate rewards in beating the Saints last weekend, extra pressure is on Southampton to do something. Can they respond? Can they pull together a huge home effort against a Manchester United side who are still looking out of sorts? Or can the Red Devils who are just into the odds-on territory at 19/20 odds at top bookmakers, give themselves a much-needed lift? There’s pressure on both sides, which can handle it the best?

Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat
Women’s Big Bash Cricket – 11.40 pm
BTSport

The top cricket action just isn’t letting up. Hot off the back of the Women’s World T20 Championship (which Australia won against England), it is domestic action from Down Under up next in the Women’s Big Bash League which starts on December 1st. So if you are looking for some late night action on Friday night from the WBBL then you can enjoy the Strikers against the Heat. The Strikers, who are captained by superstar Ellyse Perry fell in the semifinals of last season’s campaign against the Sydney Sixers. They are expected to be in the mix again at the business end of the season but can they open on a positive note? Melbourne have the exciting Chamari Atapattu as one of their main weapons and will be looking to improve on their 5th place finish last season. The exciting aspect is that this is the first game of the new season for both and nerves and unpredictability are bound to be flying around the Adelaide Oval. Which of them will make a big opening statement? The odds-on favourite Strikers on home soil or can the likes of Atapattu raise the temperature for the Heat?

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