Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 3-4

Ten draws: Bristol City v Leeds, Stoke v Queens Park Rangers, Wimbledon v Rotherham, Burton v Ipswich, Coventry v Southend, Forest Green v Oldham, Scunthorpe v Swindon, Aberdeen v Hearts, Ross v Hamilton, Clyde v East Fife.

Best draws: Bristol City v Leeds, Stoke v Queens Park Rangers, Burton v Ipswich, Coventry v Southend, Aberdeen v Hearts.

Six aways: Fulham, Cardiff, Portsmouth, Mansfield, Rangers, Manchester City.

Ten homes: Brentford, Peterborough, Sunderland, Bradford City, Carlisle, Colchester, Leyton Orient, Celtic, Chesterfield, Torquay.

Pick of the draws: Leeds, frustrated by their failure to gain promotion to the Premier League last season, will be determined to make amends this time but they could have had an easier opening game than at Bristol City on Sunday. City are one of the Championship's better teams and capable of collecting a point. The serious injury to their captain Ryan Shawcross in a friendly last weekend will probably play on Stoke's mind and allow Queens Park Rangers, now managed by Mark Warburton, to escape with a share of the spoils. Ipswich, relegated to League One, will be anxious to halt their slide but Burton have a habit of upsetting more fancied sides and could do the same on Saturday. Coventry are handicapped by having to play all their home matches at Birmingham's ground and Southend may be the first to take advantage. Hearts finished last season on a downer but, refreshed by the summer break, have a decent chance of holding Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Away days: Fulham, second favourites to be promoted from the Championship after their relegation last season, will expect to beat Barnsley, who are newcomers to this division. Cardiff, who came down with Fulham, have retained the services of manager Neil Warnock and will travel to Wigan with high hopes. Portsmouth, who just missed out on promotion to the Championship, will want to make a good start to this season and should do so at Shrewsbury. Mansfield, in League Two, will be kicking themselves for failing to go up last season and I believe they'll prevail at Newport. Rangers aim to push Celtic all the way in the Scottish Premiership and are fancied to take maximum points at Kilmarnock. Liverpool haven't had the best of pre-seasons and I can't see Manchester City, the Premier League champions, showing them any mercy in Sunday's Community Shield.

Homes sweet homes: Brentford, of the Championship, are consistently underrated and have made some good signings in the close season. I think they'll have too much for Birmingham, who have been unsettled by the departure of manager Garry Monk. Leyton Orient, National League champions last season, make a welcome return to League Two and are well worth a punt against Cheltenham. Torquay, promoted to the National League, are also recommended against Boreham Wood, who are expected to be among the strugglers this season.

Pools info: Huddersfield v Derby (No 5 on coupon) and Bury v MK Dons (15) will be judged by the pools panel. Dunfermline v Dundee (45) is void.