Pools tips for this weekend March 17-18

Ten draws: Portsmouth v Bristol City, Exeter v Preston, Bristol Rovers v AFC Wimbledon, Burton v Torquay, Nuneaton v Hyde, Eastleigh v Dover, Sutton v Chelmsford, Woking v Welling, Airdrie v Forfar, Berwick v Queen's Park.


Best draws: Portsmouth v Bristol City, Bristol Rovers v AFC Wimbledon, Burton v Torquay, Sutton v Chelmsford, Woking v Welling.


Five aways: Reading, Carlisle, Southend, Bishop's Stortford, Dundee.


Nine homes: Ipswich, Colchester, Rochdale, Accrington, Aldershot, Barnet, Forest Green, Southport, FC Halifax.


Pick of the draws: Bottom club Portsmouth seem resigned to relegation from the Championship after their 10-point deduction, which should allow Bristol City, in danger of going down themselves, to escape from Fratton Park with a point. In League Two, AFC Wimbledon have acquitted themselves well on their travels and a visit to Bristol Rovers should hold no fears. Burton have been in freefall but I have a hunch they will stop the rot by holding Torquay. Sutton (4th) and Chelmsford (5th) are very evenly matched in the Blue Square Bet South and I cannot separate them. Woking are clear leaders in this division but if any team can hold them it's Welling, who are also in the promotion mix.


Away days: The claims of Reading, eight wins and a draw from their last nine games in the Championship, cannot be ignored at Barnsley, especially as the hosts have hit a rocky patch. League One play-off contenders Carlisle look a good thing at ailing Bournemouth and in League Two I expect Southend to return to winning ways at Hereford, who have already lost 11 times at home. Bishop's Stortford can confirm their improvement in the Blue Square Bet North by prevailing at Workington while in the Scottish first division Dundee's fine away record should stand them in good stead at Morton.


Homes sweet homes: Colchester won 2-0 at runaway leaders Charlton recently, so they are capable of upsetting Huddersfield, whose attempt at automatic promotion from League One is stalling. Bottom club Rochdale gained a deserved point in a 2-2 draw at Huddersfield last weekend and are worth a punt against inconsistent, mid-table Oldham. Aldershot, winners of their last four at home in League Two, have an excellent chance of making it five against Bradford City, who struggle to string good results together. Barnet are sliding dangerously close to the relegation zone, so they will be eager to avenge last season's home defeat by Morecambe.