AMERICAN FOOTBALL: The Divisional play-offs take place this weekend with the AFC’s top seeds Denver hosting Buffalo on Saturday and Houston at 2019’s champions New England on Sunday. Neither Houston nor Buffalo have ever won the Super Bowl. 

In the NFC 2024’s runners-up the San Francisco 49ers are at Seattle while Los Angeles Rams travel to Chicago. 

The Super Bowl will take place in California on February 8. 

HORSE RACING: British racecourses notched up attendance figures of more than five million in 2025, an increase of almost 5 per cent on the previous year and the highest number since 2019. 

Uttoxeter’s Summer Cup Chase day enjoyed a whopping 20 per cent increase in June and there was an average 8.6 per cent rise across the festive period meetings. 

Cheltenham began the new year with a capacity crowd of 44,151 on January 1. 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Nottingham and Cardiff Met will both be looking to secure their first wins of the Super League season when the bottom two clash in the east midlands on Saturday evening. 

Top of the table Caledonia play London on Sunday after Oaklands Wolves have met Leicester and Sheffield play Newcastle. 

Second-placed Essex Rebels round off the weekend’s fixtures when they take their five-match winning run to Manchester. 

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Formartine United lead the Highland League by two points before their home game with Strathspey on Saturday afternoon, while second-placed Brechin visit Clachnacuddin and Fraserburgh in third are at Nairn. 

Fourth-placed defending champions Brora, who are only three points off the pace but with two games in hand, are at struggling Lossiemouth. 

Bottom club Rothes are still looking for their first win in 18 games when they travel to Buckie Thistle.