THE PARS will be looking to erase last week’s Fife derby defeat when they confront Queen of the South at East End Park on Saturday.

The Dumfries challengers have amassed an encouraging seven points out of nine at the start of their campaign and sit third in the embryonic league table. However, the bookmakers fancy the Pars to even up their record by offering no bigger than even money (Stan James) that they claim the three points. The Doonhamers are 27/10 (Betvictor) and a draw 14/5 (Stan James).

The evidence so far does not indicate that Dunfermline should be warm favourites and there are better alternatives. Both sides have had no problem scoring so far (12 goals between them) and therefore it is worth speculating that more than three-and-a-half goals will be scored on Saturday at 19/10 with Betvictor.

Prediction: Dunfermline 2 Queen of the South 2.

There is one live Scottish Premier League fixture and it takes place tomorrow (Friday) night (BT Sport 1, 7.45pm) when Kilmarnock host pace-setters Rangers.

The Gers are hot favourites at 9/20 (Betvictor/Boylesports) to make it four wins out of four on their top flight return; the draw is 19/5 (Betvictor) and Killie 6/1.

Celtic will be buoyed by their progress into the Champions League group stages and they are 1/2 (Stan James/Hills) to follow up that success by beating Aberdeen on Saturday (3pm kick-off). The Dons are 6/1 to upset the applecart and the stalemate is 15/4 (Betvictor).

The final tennis Grand Slam of the year, the US Open at Flushing Meadows, starts on Monday. The outright prices have an all-too-familiar look. Novak Djokovic heads the men's list at 11/10 (Coral); Andy Murray is 2/1; Milos Raonic 16/1; Juan Martin del Potro 20/1 (Boylesports) and Rafael Nadal, Stan Warwinka and Marin Cilic are all 25/1.

Serena Williams is 6/4 (Unibet) to triumph in the ladies' event; Simona Halep is 9/1; Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza 10/1; Madison Keys 18/1; Petra Kvitova 22/1 (Stan James) and Puerto Rican Olympic gold medal hero Monica Puig is among the group at 40/1. British hope Johanna Konta, seeded 13, is at 50/1.

The Ladbrokes Challenge Cup is rugby league’s showpiece competition and the final will be held at Wembley on Saturday (3pm kick-off). Pennine rivals Warrington and Hull are the protagonists and the bookmakers are finding it difficult to separate them. Both sides are available at 11/10 (Warrington with Paddy Power, Hull with Skybet) to win in normal time with the draw at 20/1.

If you fancy one of the teams to win more convincingly, you can back them with a handicap. For example, Hull +2 are 10/11 (Stan James) and Warrington -2 5/4 (Skybet) with the tie 20/1. Other markets available include total points, first tryscorer and man of the match.