Pools tips for Saturday June 2

Ten draws: Ballarat v Keilor, Preston v East Altona, Melbourne University v Yarraville, Beaumaris v Old Scotch, Knights v Joondalup, Sorrento v Balcatta, Canning v Mandurah, WT Birkalla v Western Strikers, Para Hills v South Adelaide, Seaford v Northern Demons.


Best draws: Ballarat v Keilor, Beaumaris v Old Scotch, Knights v Joondalup, Canning v Mandurah, Para Hills v South Adelaide.


Six aways: South Springvale, Sporting Whittlesea, Heatherton, Perth, Croydon, Metro Stars.


Nine homes: Pascoe Vale, Athena, Bayswater, Ashfield, Cockburn, Dianella, Rockingham, Blue Eagles, Adelaide Cobras.

Pools tips for Saturday May 26

Ten draws: Keilor v Banyule, Noble Park v Doncaster, North Sunshine v Williamstown, Yarraville v Whittlesea Utd, Doveton v Fitzroy, Sorrento v Bayswater, Subiaco v UWA Nedlands, Western Strikers v Blue Eagles, Cumberland v Adelaide Cobras, Noarlunga v NAB.


Best draws: Keilor v Banyule, North Sunshine v Williamstown, Doveton v Fitzroy, Sorrento v Bayswater, Western Strikers v Blue Eagles.


Six aways: Pascoe Vale, Kingston, Avondale, Athena, Canning, Wanneroo.


Nine homes: Fawkner, La Trobe, Eastern Lions, Nunawading, Balcatta, Ashfield, Kingsway, Campbelltown, Metro Stars.

Pools tips for Saturday May 19

Ten draws: La Trobe v East Altona, Moreland v Fawkner, Diamond Valley v Box Hill, Avondale v Sydenham, Melbourne v Cairnlea, Strathmore v N Falcons, Brandon Park v Frankston, Inglewood v Bunbury, Melville v Joondalup C, Port Kembla v Fernhill.


Best draws: La Trobe v East Altona, Moreland v Fawkner, Avondale v Sydenham, Inglewood v Bunbury, Melville v Joondalup C.


Six aways: Banyule, North Sunshine, Hume, Doveton, Perth, Ashfield.


Nine homes: Pascoe Vale, Malvern, Williamstown, Essendon, Westvale, Athena, Bayswater, Shamrock, Wanneroo.

Pools tips for this weekend May 12-13

Ten draws: Everton v Newcastle, Sunderland v Manchester United, Espanyol v Sevilla, Real Vallecano v Granada, Catania v Udinese, Parma v Bologna, Nancy v St Etienne, Paris St Germain v Rennes, Beira Mar v Olhanense, Sporting Lisbon v Braga.

Best draws: Everton v Newcastle, Sunderland v Manchester United, Espanyol v Sevilla, Catania v Udinese, Parma v Bologna.

Five aways: Bolton, Liverpool, Barcelona, Osasuna, Inter Milan.

Nine homes: Chelsea, Manchester City, Norwich, Wigan, Malaga, Real Madrid, Chievo, Genoa, Nice.

Pick of the draws: Everton, as usual, are finishing strongly but they may struggle to overcome Newcastle, who are still trying for automatic Champions League qualification and have been the surprise packet of the season. At first glance, title-chasing Manchester United may look away bankers at Sunderland but Martin O'Neill and his players will be eager to end their campaign on a positive note by finishing in the top half of the table. Sevilla will want to avoid their fourth consecutive away defeat in the Spanish League and can get something at Espanyol, who were thumped by Barcelona last weekend. Mid-table Catania's draw at Roma last weekend was well-earned, so Udinese, third in the Italian League, won't have things all their own way. It is difficult to predict a winner between Parma (eighth) and Bologna (ninth).

Away days: Bolton need maximum points on Sunday if they are to have any chance of staying in the Premier League. I believe they will get them at Stoke, who are ending the season with a whimper. Note  that Stoke lost their final game of last season to Wigan, which enabled the Lancashire club to escape relegation. Liverpool, still licking their wounds after their defeat in the FA Cup final, will be doing all they can to finish above their Merseyside rivals, Everton, and are worth backing at Swansea. Barcelona, who visit mid-table Real Betis, cannot be ignored while Osasuna will surely be too good for bottom club Real Santander.  Inter Milan are finishing the Italian League season with a flourish and will be quietly fancying their chances of beating Lazio, who are one point and two places above them.

Homes sweet homes: Norwich were terrific in their thrilling 3-3 draw at Arsenal last Saturday and should relish the visit of Aston Villa, who are playing as though they cannot wait for the season to end. Wigan are on a high after avoiding relegation from the Premier League for the third consecutive year and will be confident of beating relegated Wolves. In the Italian League, Genoa are worth a punt against Palermo and in the French League I have a hunch that Nice will upset the better-placed Evian TG.

Pools tips for this weekend May 5-6

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Preston, Oldham v Carlisle, Tranmere v Scunthorpe, Dagenham & Redbridge v Bristol Rovers, Hereford v Torquay, Hamilton v Partick, Morton v Raith, Berwick v Stranraer, Montrose v Clyde, Atletico Madrid v Malaga.


Best draws: Tranmere v Scunthorpe, Dagenham & Redbridge v Bristol Rovers, Hereford v Torquay, Berwick v Stranraer, Montrose v Clyde.


Five aways: Sheffield United, Crawley, Barnet, Oxford, Ross.


Nine homes: Arsenal, Manchester United, Charlton, Leyton Orient, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth, Southend, Dundee, Albion.


Pick of the draws: Tranmere tend to draw at home (10 times this season); Scunthorpe tend to draw away (11). As only four points separate them in League One, there is good reason to think the spoils will be shared. Bristol Rovers have started scoring heavily in League Two - seven against Burton, five against Accrington - but Dagenham & Redbridge will probably offer a sterner test on their own ground. Hereford must win to stay in the Football League; their opponents, Torquay, may need to win to gain automatic promotion. I don't think either will be successful. Berwick's indifferent home form in the Scottish third division will encourage Stranraer while Montrose and Clyde, who both find wins elusive, play each other.


Away days: Promotion-seeking Sheffield United are a confident selection at Exeter, who were relegated from League One last weekend. Victory at mid-table Accrington will guarantee Crawley promotion from League Two. Despite their shock home defeat by Hereford last weekend I believe they will go up for the second season in a row. Barnet will be eager to follow up last weekend's resounding success against AFC Wimbledon and only maximum points at Burton will guarantee them safety. It's win or bust for Oxford as they strive for a play-off place and I cannot see Port Vale putting up sufficient resistance. Ross, the runaway Scottish first division champions, will surely make hay against Queen of the South, who have been relegated. 


Homes sweet homes: Leyton Orient have faded badly in League One but they will be keen to end the season on a winning note against bottom club Rochdale. In League Two, I'm taking lowly Plymouth to surprise Cheltenham, who are assured of a play-off place but have lost their last five away matches. Second-placed Dundee's home form in the Scottish first division has been unreliable but they may raise their game against Livingston, who travel well. In the Scottish second division, Albion must beat bottom club Stirling to have any chance of avoiding the relegation play-offs. I'm backing them to do it.