Brad Davis reckons his Bath (11/8 to win – Guinness Premiership coupon) side could be meeting Saracens at the right time in the Guinness Premiership.

The Bath coach told BBC Radio Bristol that he has seen his side looking confident in recent weeks and they face Saracens (4/7 to win, 18/1 draw – Guinness Premiership coupon) at Vicarage Road today looking to cause an upset.

Bath sit seventh in the Guinness Premiership table while their hosts this afternoon are third and close to battling for the title.

Davis has to cope for the game without Butch James, their dominant stand-off, and he has been replaced by Ryan Davis.

Better news for Bath fans is the return of Olly Barkley in midfield as he makes his first appearance since being out of action with a broken leg.

Davis said: “For the last few weeks, everyone’s come in with a bit of a spring in their step, looking forward to training, looking forward to matches and looking forward to continuing this run.

“Things are going well for us at the moment, we should continue to keep building.”

Elsewhere in the Guinness Premiership on Sunday afternoon, Leeds Carnegie take on Wasps (Leeds 7/4, draw 18/1, Wasps 6/9 – match coupon) while London Irish play host to Harlequins at the Madejski Stadium (Irish 2/7, draw 20/1, Harlequins 5/2 – match coupon).

Rangers manager Walter Smith reckons today’s Old Firm derby is of vital importance for both them and Celtic (2/1 to win – Rangers v Celtic coupon).

The Glasgow rivals are currently separated by seven points in the Scottish Premier League and victory for Rangers (13/10, draw 12/5 – Rangers v Celtic) could see them extend their lead to a massive ten points plus a game in hand.

Celtic will be gunning for victory in the lunch-time kick off to cut the deficit to four points and keep their faint hopes of winning the title still alive (Rangers 1/6, Celtic 7/2 – Scottish Premier League outright 2009/2010).

Smith is hoping that goalkeeper Allan McGregor will be fit to play in the game after being attacked on a night out, while he also expects Lee McCulloch to be able to take part.

The Rangers manager said the match was “a must-win game” for both Rangers and Celtic.

“We’ve got to go into the game hoping to win it. Both teams are exactly the same,” said the former national manager.

“There are quite a number of games to be played so it’s too early for us to be making assumptions about championships.”

The biggest injury worry for Celtic concerns on-loan striker Robbie Keane (6/1 – First Goalscorer), who has not trained this week and is due to be assessed by medical staff before the kick-off.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is confident that the players in his squad are capable of winning Sunday’s Carling Cup final against Manchester United (Villa 7/4, United 2/5 Carling Cup Winner).

The two sides go head-to-head at Wembley for the season’s first piece of silverware and O’Neill will be boosted by the news skipper Stiliyan Petrov has overcome a virus, while keeper Brad Friedel, defender James Collins and striker Emile Heskey are all pushing for a start after being rested in the FA Cup fifth-round replay win over Crystal Palace.

O’Neill, who won the League Cup while in charge of Leicester, is confident that Villa can win the game (Villa 7/2, United 20/23, draw 13/5 Carling Cup 90 Minutes) after their victory over United at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

The Northern Irishman said: “We have some players in brilliant form who can cause them problems.

“Our confidence comes from being the only team to win at Old Trafford in the league this season. We played exceptionally well that day. But Sunday’s game will be open.”

On the prospect of winning his first trophy since taking over at Villa Park four years ago, O’Neill added: “Winning a trophy is the ultimate. There is no getting away from that and it would be fantastic.

“We have a lot of pictures of the old teams around the training ground. It is something to aspire to.

“I have often said to keep the pictures up on the walls of the 1981 league-winning side and 1982 European Cup-winning side. The early 1980s was a fantastic spell for Villa.

“The history of the club is there to see, a great tradition, so we’d like to try and do something about it.”

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Ireland coach Declan Kidney was delighted with the way his side bounced back from a heavy defeat against France to keep their Six Nations hopes alive (Ireland 10/1 Six Nations Outright) with a 20-16 win against England at Twickenham.

Ireland wing Tommy Bowe’s brace of tries, plus one from Keith Earls, were instrumental in securing victory for the visitors and ending the Grand Slam hopes of England coach Martin Johnson’s side.

Kidney was left thrilled with his side’s performance as they put the 33-10 defeat against France in Paris a fortnight ago behind them to also maintain their Triple Crown (Ireland 4/11 Triple Crown Winner) aspirations.

“I’m hugely proud, I’ve got the same feeling we had at the end of last year’s championship,” he told BBC Sport.

“We can be hard on ourselves and we’re lacking a bit of belief - I’m not sure why, but we responded better. The difference between today and Paris was we took our opportunities today.”

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Arsenal struck with two late goals to close the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to just three points after a 3-1 success at Stoke, although the win came at a cost as Aaron Ramsey suffered a horrific leg injury.

The Gunners (now 11/4 to win the title) had to come from behind after Danny Pugh’s eighth-minute header from Rory Delap’s throw in, but Nicklas Bendtner levelled matters before half-time.

Midway through the second period, Ramsay suffered his injury for which Ryan Shawcross was sent off although the visitors left it late before making the extra man count.

Cesc Fabregas converted a last minute penalty after Bendtner’s through-ball struck Pugh’s arm before Thomas Vermaelen scored four minutes into stoppage time to seal the victory.

The result means there is a genuine three-horse title race following nine-man Chelsea’s 4-2 defeat at home to Manchester City earlier in the day, with the gap now down to three points.

Roberto Manccini’s men came-from-behind to inflict the league leaders’ first home defeat of the season, with Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy scoring twice for the Citizens and Frank Lampard bagging two for the Blues.

Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack saw red for the home side who failed to extend their advantage over Manchester United - in action in the Carling Cup final on Sunday.

City (8/11 to win the Premier League W/O Big 4) meanwhile have of course strengthened their grip on a top-four place, pulling three points clear of Tottenham (3/1) and four ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa (3/1), although Martin O’Neill’s men do have a game in hand.

Razor Royale has been trimmed to 40/1 for Grand National glory after landing Saturday’s feature race, the Racing Post Chase at Kempton.

Paddy Brennan on board the eight-year-old had to withstand a late charge from Tony McCoy riding last year’s winner Nacarat and a blunder at the last, but managed to do just that and land the spoils at 11/1 for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Assistant trainer Carl Llewellyn admitted he had feared defeat but believes that Razor Royale’s jumping is improving and that he may well go to Cheltenham before the National.

“He won well at Cheltenham a few starts back but at Sandown last time he made early mistakes and never recovered and he nearly threw it away today,” Llewellyn said.

“I thought AP (McCoy) would get him after the last as he’s the last man you want to see there, but he found plenty.

“He found plenty after the last on ground that is deep enough.

“His jumping is getting better and he could be a National horse. We will see how he comes out of it but he could go to Cheltenham first.”

Tricky Trickster remains the favourite at 12/1 for the Aintree showpiece, ahead of Backstage, Big Fella Thanks, Black Apalachi, Niche Market and Vic Venturi all at 16/1, while Possol is on offer at 20/1.

Brian McClennan has said reigning champions Leeds Rhinos intend to do the Super League proud when they take on Melbourne Storm in Sunday’s showdown at Elland Road (Leeds Rhinos 6/5 draw 16/1 Melbourne Storm 4/6 - match betting).

The three-time Super League champions will tomorrow attempt to match the feat of Wigan and Bradford and win the Gillette World Club Challenge for the third time (Leeds +2 10/11 tie 16/1 Melbourne Storm -2 10/11 - handicap betting).

McClennan, who will be missing without winger Scott Donald because of a shoulder injury, has described the occasion as the biggest in the club’s history and is confident his players will put aside their stuttering start to the domestic campaign with a performance against the Storm.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for both our clubs,” McClennan said.

“We want to perform well for Super League and we’re calling on supporters of other clubs to support us too.

“We want to do Super League proud against the best side the NRL have produced in quite a few decades. They’re a team that is evolving the game of rugby league very quickly.

“It’s certainly the biggest challenge we’ve had as a club.”

Melbourne have five players left from the side beaten 11-4 by Leeds in 2008 but will be without forwards Brett White and Sika Manu, new signing Chase Stanley and scrum-half Cooper Cronk.

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he is considering resting red-hot striker Wayne Rooney for the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday (Aston Villa 16/5 draw 12/5 Man United 20/23 - match betting).

England international Rooney (6/5 Anytine Scorer) has scored 27 goals in all competitions this season and is now just 15 short of the total chalked up by Cristiano Ronaldo in United’s 2008 Champions League-winning season.

Ferguson described the 24-year-old as “world class” in the wake of his Champions League double over AC Milan.

However, with important games coming up, including the return leg against Milan and crucial Premier League games, the Scot has hinted he may wrap Rooney in cotton wool.

“It has to be a consideration simply because we have important games coming up,” said the United boss.

“The problem is he is desperate to play, he is always desperate to play.”

Ferguson joked: “Maybe it is his chance to play right-back because he keeps telling everyone he is a great defender, centre-half or sweeper.”

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Sir Alex Ferguson has told his Manchester United players the only way they will enjoy Wembley on Sunday is by winning the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa (Aston Villa 16/5 draw 12/5 Man United 20/23 - match betting).

The Scot has stressed his players must not get caught up in the emotion of the day when they compete in their fourth League Cup final in eight years - and their third in five – against Martin O’Neill’s Champions League hopefuls.

Villa famously prevented United from winning a domestic treble in 1994 when they recorded a 3-1 win (33/1 Correct Score) under the stewardship of former Old Trafford boss Ron Atkinson.

This time around. Ferguson knows Sunday is an ideal opportunity to put an another trophy on the shelf and insists winning – not the occasion – is all that matters.

“Wembley is an occasion. It has always been that way,” said Ferguson.

“But the only way you can enjoy Wembley is by winning. We have got an opportunity to win something on Sunday. It is not a nice day when you lose.”

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Wayne Bridge will have no problem facing Chelsea and John Terry when Manchester City travel to take on the Premier League leaders on Saturday, according to team-mate Shay Given (Chelsea 4/9 draw 11/4 Man City 11/2 - match betting).

City full-back Bridge announced on Thursday he did not wish to be considered for England’s World Cup squad because he felt his presence would be “untenable and potentially divisive” in the wake of allegations about former Stamford Bridge team-mate Terry and his ex-partner Vanessa Perroncel.

Terry, who who stripped of the captaincy by Fabio Capello, will come face-to-face with Bridge for the first time on Saturday since his private life hit the front pages.

Given says Bridge (40/1 First and Last Goalscorer) will handle the situation and is in no doubt his focus will be on the job of returning City to winning ways following their FA Cup exit.

“He’s fine and he’s looking forward to the game and hopefully getting a good result,” said Given.

“It’s a massive game for everyone at the club, including Wayne. Shaun Wright-Phillips is going back to his old club as well and they are both looking forward to it.”

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