THE PARS’ elimination by Alloa in the previous round of the Irn-Bru Cup has left them without a game as that competition reaches the quarter-final stage.

The Bohemian FC (Dublin) versus East Fife clash has also bitten the dust due to the League of Ireland season having finished a month ago; so while the authorities ponder over the rescheduling of that game the show stutters on with the three remaining ties.

BBC Alba has chosen to televise the Queen’s Park versus Connah’s Quay Nomads contest tomorrow (Friday, 7.45pm) and the North Wales outfit are expected to emerge victorious; being priced up at 4/5 (Betfred), while the Spiders are 3/1 (Skybet) and the 90-minute draw 11/4.

Tonight (Thursday) sees the return of the international friendlies beginning with the ‘Irish derby’ (Sky Sports Football, 7.45pm). The Republic are 11/10, a draw 11/5 (Skybet) and their Northern counterparts 10/3 (Bet365).

There is a potential re-enactment of England’s ignominious loss to the US in the 1950 World Cup when the pair meet at Wembley (Sky Sports Main Event, 8pm). 68 years on and England are still heavy favourites at 2/7; a draw is 5/1 and the USA 12/1.

Friday’s action involves Wales hosting Denmark in a pivotal Group B Nations League match where victory would guarantee top spot (S4C, 7.45pm). Wales are 9/5 (Unibet), a draw 21/10 and Denmark 19/10 (Skybet).

Scotland travel to Albania on Saturday (Sky Sports Football, 7.45pm) where anything other than a defeat would make them favourites to edge a tight group. Albania are 11/5 (Bet365), a draw 21/10 and the Scots 31/20 (Boylesports).

This has the makings of a tight, low-scoring encounter and the visitors can grind out a point.

Prediction: Albania 0 Scotland 0.

Sunday’s matches have not yet been priced up by all the bookmakers so it is worth checking the prices closer to the day but the current odds for the England versus Croatia game (Sky Sports Football, 2pm) are as follows: England 10/11 (Betvictor); a draw 5/2 and Croatia 10/3 (Boylesports).

Northern Ireland play Austria (Sky Sports Football, 5pm) at Windsor Park where Norn Iron are bidding to avoid losing all four group games. The Irish are 5/2 (Coral), a draw 13/5 and Austria 21/20.

The Autumn rugby internationals continue this weekend and Scotland face a tough task when they take on South Africa at Murrayfield (Saturday, BT Sport 2 5.20pm). The layers do not think there is too much to choose between them, making South Africa 8/13 (Boylesports), Scotland 13/8 (Skybet) and a draw 25/1 (Coral). On the handicap, the best prices are Scotland +4 at 20/21 (Betfred) or South Africa -3 at 10/11 (Unibet).