Only one game on Saturday this week - fittingly, it's ours - albeit away from home...

Saturday's game (live on Sky, kick off 2.45pm - highlights on BBC2 Sunday 1.55pm)

Worcester v Saints

After a morale-boosting win against Bristol last week, Saints head down the M5 to Sixways for this clash with Worcester, who are going well in mid-table.  That said, they have suffered a couple of reverses in their last two games, both at home to Bath, and away at Newcastle last weekend.  Both sides have been suffering with injuries, Worcester of late, and Saints since about 28 May 2000 (a New Year may have arrived, but Wellsaint's sarcastic streak remains firmly intact!!)  However, there was some interesting team news announced on Thursday, with Robbie Kydd scheduled to make his debut at centre for Saints on Saturday.  The Worcester team news of most interest to Saints fans concerns former Saint Shane Drahm - will he, or won't he, be in the line-up come kick-off time on Saturday?  Certainly, my fear is that if Shane plays and it turns into a game where kicks are crucial, I fear I know which way this game will go – and that would be a narrow Worcester win by four points.  If Shane isn't fit, this could make Saints' task somewhat easier - although Worcester is a difficult place to win (that said, we did it earlier in the season in the Anglo Welsh WOFT Cup, and Bath managed it just after Christmas.)  A difficult game to call with so many questions about likely team composition and indeed, in Saints' case, whether Robbie Kydd is fully fit (let's hope so; I'm looking forward to seeing him) - I still think Worcester may just edge it - perhaps I need another conversation with Louisa and Ben's Babe...

SUNDAY'S GAMES (FIVE OF THEM!!)

Saracens v Gloucester (live on Sky, kick off 1.30pm)

A second live game for us this weekend (however it clashes with the highlights on BBC2 of our game) sees Gloucester visit Vicarage Road to play Saracens.  Gloucester have climbed quietly up the table this season and will fancy their chances here.  Sarries are currently mid-table and are (as ever) maddeningly inconsistent.  A possible narrow away win - Gloucester by three.

Leeds v Bath

A crucial match at the wrong end of the table, and one which Saints fans will be keeping an eagle eye on.  I referred to Sarries as inconsistent; well then, what can you say about Bath?  Tenth in the Premiership and on the same number of points as Saints, yet, if the seedings were being worked out for the Heineken Cup, they would, currently, be the top seeds, having dropped only one point in twenty!  I think the pressure will be back on Saints after this round of games, as I take Leeds to win by four.

Sale v Bristol

Sale may have lost at Bristol earlier this season but I think they will win the return game with something to spare - Sale by fifteen.

London Irish v Leicester

Who would have predicted London Irish's current position at the start of the season? They have been winning consistently, and face a Leicester side who are having some problems on the road this season.  Another tight game in a very tight round of matches - London Irish to win by five.

Wasps v Newcastle

Although Newcastle got a valuable win against Worcester last week it's hard to see them getting anything here - Wasps are in something of a rich vein of form (away from Europe) and I take them to win by fifteen.

EXTRA NEW YEAR BONUS

NFL Wildcard Game Picks

Washington Redskins @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Please, please, will someone wipe the smile of Chucky's ugly mug?  And I HATE that pirate ship with a venom.  The last time these two met in the playoffs (1999) Tampa won by one point as Washington missed a late field goal - and earlier this season, the margin in Tampa was one point, again in favour of the Bucs.  The handicap line is that the Bucs are -2.5 points, and although this is tight (11 of the last 14 meetings have been decided by 8 points or less) I would just side with the Bucs covering the points - although going for the Bucs to win the game outright is the safer option.

Jacksonville @ New England

We go back to 1999 to find New England's last loss in the playoffs, against... Jacksonville, of course!  That said, I expect New England to get through this game relatively easily - the handicap line is -7.5 points, which is a lot to give up, but if New England have any realistic ambitions to lift the big one again, this is a game they need to close out well.  Big question for Jacksonville is whether their #1 QB, Bryon Leftwich, is fit to play.  If so, this will give them a boost.

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati

Divisional rivals meet in the Wildcard game and indeed in the playoffs for the first time ever, Cincinnati making their fist visit to the post-season since 1990.  I don't think it will last long though; Pittsburgh won in Cincinnati in the regular season and I take them to repeat the dose, win, and cover the three point handicap line in what to me looks the pick of the four games to bet on.

Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants

Carolina buried Atlanta last week and this will set them up for this game at Giants Stadium.  That said, the Giants are playing well also - watch out for another big performance from Tiki Barber - and I take the Giants to win this and cover the 2.5 point start they give Carolina on the book.