Roll up for mighty feast of sport

The Wellington Phoenix take on the Newcastle Jets this Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

Sport fans, grab your favourite drink and take your seats. A huge sporting weekend lies ahead, and with it some prime opportunities to make - or perhaps lose - some money while being entertained.

Some of our staunchest rivalries will be tested in rugby and cricket, while the Wellington Phoenix continue their quest for Australasian football glory, and racing's Auckland Cup Week bursts into life. Sky Television expects strong viewing figures over the weekend, but would not speculate on which sport was likely to rate best.

The weather could have its say, with the MetService predicting some showers late this afternoon in Auckland, where the Black Caps are hosting Australia in the cricket.

TAB spokesman Grant Nisbett said the weekend offered an "unbelievable" line-up of continuous sporting action.

"I think the cricket will draw plenty of attention, because of course it's being played during the day. And so you can concentrate on that during the day, and pretty much when the cricket finishes, the rugby starts."

Today's match between Black Caps and Australia - the second in the Chappell-Hadlee one-day series - has taken on added intrigue after a fiery first encounter in which New Zealand claimed the honours.

But the TAB is expecting a backlash from Australia, with our transtasman cousins yesterday at odds of $1.37, compared with New Zealand at $2.90.

Nisbett reckons a good bet might be Martin Guptill, at $5.50, to score the most runs for the New Zealanders in front of his home crowd where he scored a century on debut.

Saturday night sees a renewal of the traditional north-south rivalry between the Blues from Auckland and the Crusaders from Canterbury. The home team, the Crusaders, yesterday were favoured head-to-head at $1.22, compared with the Blues at $4.

"It doesn't get much bigger, does it?" Nisbett said. "That throws two former winners of the competition together. I imagine that will be our biggest-betting rugby game of the weekend for sure."

Nisbett reckons the Blues could be worth a punt at $4, but he is picking the Crusaders to win by 12 or less points.

As the weekend of rugby comes to a close, attention will turn to the big soccer match in the capital, where the Wellington Phoenix can move to within one match of the A-League grand final by beating the Newcastle Jets in an elimination semifinal.

Nisbett said Phoenix fans were loyal in backing their team with a punt. The Phoenix were at odds of $1.90 yesterday, compared with the Jets at $3.90, and a draw was offering $3.25.

"It's a bit like the Warriors. The Warriors are always heavily backed regardless of whether they are favourites or outsiders. People just like to feel like they are having a bet on 'their team' if you like."

Auckland Cup Week kicks off today with New Zealand's richest race, the $2.2 million Telecom New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie. Zarzuela is the favourite, at $2.80 late yesterday.

TODAY

Cricket
New Zealand v Australia, Eden Park, 12pm
Live on Sky Sport and Prime

TONIGHT

Rugby
Crusaders v Blues, Christchurch, 7.35pm
Live on Sky Sport

TOMORROW

Soccer
Phoenix v Newcastle Jets, Wellington, 4pm
Live on Sky Sport