THE PARS’ encouraging start to the campaign will be put to the test when they face pre-season league favourites Dundee United at East End Park on Saturday.

Athletic are 21/10 (Hills); a draw 23/10 (Bet365) and the Terrors 7/5 (Bet365). Dunfermline have racked up two draws in their two games so far and this tight-looking tussle may well result in another stalemate.

Prediction: Dunfermline 1 Dundee United 1.

BBC Scotland continue their Championship coverage tomorrow (Friday) night (7.05pm kick-off) with Greenock Morton hosting Partick Thistle. The ’Ton are 7/4 (Betway/Hills), a draw 12/5 (Bet365) and the Jags 31/20 (Hills).

There is one live Scottish Premier match over the weekend; Sunday’s clash between St Mirren and Rangers at St Mirren Park (BT Sport 1, 12.15pm). The Gers are 2/9 to claim the three points, the Buddies 14/1 and a draw 11/2 (Bet365).

Later that day, Celtic host Hearts in a 3pm non-televised game and the bookies’ prices are very similar: the Bhoys are 2/9, a draw 11/2 and the Jambos 15/1 (Betfair Sportsbook).

Celtic’s failure to progress past CFR Cluj in the Champions League has resulted in them being demoted into joining Rangers in the Europa League final qualifying round. The first leg sees the Bhoys play AIK Stockholm at Parkhead tonight (Thursday, 7.45pm) and they are 1/2, a draw 10/3 (Betway) and AIK 13/2 (Bet365/Coral).

Rangers have to negotiate Legia Warsaw if they are to make it into the group stages, the first leg being played in the Polish capital. Both Legia and the draw are 11/5 and the Gers 7/5 (Betvictor).

Given the round features ties such as Ararat-Armenia versus F91 Dudelange and Linfield versus FK Qarabag, Torino and Wolves can consider themselves unfortunate to be lining up against one another in the Premier Sports live game (8pm). The Italians are 11/8 to obtain a first-leg advantage in Turin, a draw is 12/5 (Boylesports) and Wolves are 23/10 (Betfair Sportsbook).

Rugby League’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley on Saturday will be screened live on BBC1 (3pm kick-off). Local rivals St Helens and Warrington are competing for the silverware and the layers make Saints 2/5, Warrington 13/5 and 25/1 a draw. Saints are -8 at even money on the handicap (Unibet) while the Wolves can be backed at 5/6 but with a +10.5 start (Betfred).

Scotland were drubbed last week in France but can turn the tables as the latest round of Rugby World Cup warm-up matches continue at Murrayfield on Saturday (Premier Sports, 1.10pm). The Scots are 4/6 (Skybet), France 7/5 (Betfair Sportsbook) and a draw 28/1 (Boylesports). Using a Scotland -3 handicap, Paddy Power are 10/11 both teams with the tie chalked up at 22/1.