LEAGUE CUP CLASH ...
One for anyone who savours a spot of schadenfreude, however unlikely it might be to come off, is on offer when Shrewsbury Town take on Chelsea in the fifth round of the League Cup (Tuesday, Sky Sports 1, 7.45pm). James Collins scored the winner against Norwich City on a run during which the League Two club have also dispatched Leicester and Blackpool. The Special One is unlikely to be perturbed by their gallant efforts thus far but he will be absolutely guaranteed a raucous welcome at New Meadow.
Raucous cheers all round at the BBC too as the FA Cup returns to the channel after a six-year absence, with the first-round draw (Monday, BBC2, 7pm). Mark Chapman presents as 40 ties from across the non-league qualifiers and the League One and League Two clubs are chosen. When the action on pitch begins they will show 16 matches live as well as extended highlights.
RUGBY UNION WARM-UP ...
Before the serious business of the Autumn internationals – Tests where every team will be wanting to impose themselves upon opponents pre-World Cup – there’s some straight-up entertainment, unburdened by heavy psychological implications, when Australia take on the Barbarians at Twickenham (Saturday, Sky Sports 2, 2pm). Fearless, free-flowing running should serve as a pleasing appetiser for the major matches to come and there are still a few tickets available at englandrugby.com.
RUGBY UNION UNVEILING ...
England expect much from the internationals, as Stuart Lancaster has noted, and with that and the World Cup in mind he has admitted that Sam Burgess is on the radar. The player will be officially announced as a Bath player at The Rec on Thursday after a cross-code shift from rugby league where he has starred for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. His union debut is eagerly awaited. “He is an incredible player and a leader, but we have a lot of good centres who I am sure will have something to say about World Cup places,” said Lancaster. “He needs to learn quickly, learn the game and play well for Bath and that will be a starting point.”
NFL ALL-DAYER ...
Detroit Lions take on Atlanta Falcons at Wembley and, while it‘s also live on Channel Four (1pm), Sky is making the most of the occasion. Their coverage begins at 6am on Sky Sports 2 with episodes of the Emmy-nominated documentary NFL: A Football Life, followed by the game in London; then Baltimore Ravens playing Cincinnati Bengals (4.45pm); followed by Philadelphia Eagles versus Arizona Cardinals (8.15pm). The marathon of gridiron closes with members of the New York Giants explaining how they became the 2012 champions in the excellent America’s Game series.
F1 AND RE-RUN ...
Financial chaos at Caterham and Marussia is grabbing the headlines (see page 15) but at the sharp end there’s still an F1 championship to be won and Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg vie for it at the US Grand Prix (Sunday, Sky F1, 7pm, highlights BBC2, 10.30pm). The Circuit of the Americas is one of the best of F1’s new additions, with sweeping elevation changes making the race one to savour. Bike fans, meanwhile, can enjoy the season round-up of British Superbikes (Sunday, Eurosport, 5pm) including an exclusive interview with Shane “Shakey” Byrne, who took the title for the fourth time last week.