Gameweek 17 hands us a couple of top billing encounters; nice for the neutral and the weekend TV viewing, no so great for our Fantasy strategies.

Once again clean sheets look scarce and with both United and Chelsea out of the equation against the potent Arsenal and Spurs attacks, the trend is to turn to those rearguard candidates that at least offer the threat of attacking points. Once more then I’m looking to those with a presence at set-plays or an attacking flair to pack the Scout Pick defence.

In attacking terms we’re going to need goals at Old Trafford and White Hart Lane. If those fixtures fall flat and Everton stutter at Goodison, it could be a very forgettable start to December. Let’s think positive though – tis the season to be jolly apparently. Come back to me tomorrow night on that one.

Read on for the words to back up this week’s selection and keep an eye out for Big Dunc’s “Spot the Differentials” later this evening, that and tomorrow morning’s Pre-match Preamble will fire some leftfield alternatives your way.

The Defence

Joe Hart
With Aleksander Kolarov suspended, Hart looks the next best representative in a City defence that has now kept 8 clean sheet for the season, with 4 in the last 7. Hart will likely see action in the clash with West Ham at Upton Park and is sure to return a Save Point or two, even if Avram Grant’s side breach the City rearguard.

Robert Huth
The big German is sitting precariously on four bookings but is unquestionably worth a punt in the short-term given his potential against the Blackpool defence this weekend. Huth’s deflected free-kick at Wigan was his third goal of the season and he remains Stoke’s leading goal threat from set-pieces, whether it be direct from a dead-ball or up at corners and free-kicks to meet Matt Etherington deliveries.

Leighton Baines
A regular in the Scout Picks, Baines was simply outstanding in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend and was unlucky to emerge with just a single Bonus Point. This weekend against former club Wigan, Baines offers potential at both ends and continues to have increased attacking threat with Mikel Arteta sidelined through suspension; we will see Baines prominent at set-pieces as a result. Seamus Coleman, out on the right-flank, is your alternative if Baines is too much for your pocket.

Gary Cahill
I keep backing the Bolton stopper for returns with little success but I’m convinced that, sooner or later, Cahill will come good with a double point Gameweek. Yet to open his goal account for the season and without a clean sheet since week one of the campaign, Cahill comes up against a Blackburn outfit in form. Even so, in a week where clean sheets look hard to come by, Cahill offers better goal and Bonus Point potential than most within his price bracket.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos
A gamble this one. The reaction to Alan Pardew’s arrival at Newcastle could go either way – traditionally a new manager provides the catalyst for a spark of form – in Newcastle’s case that seems a rather more remote possibility. Liverpool will arrive with the most impressive defensive record on the league over the last 8 games and in Kyrgiakos they have a centre-back who appears to have all the physical tools to match Andy Carroll and nullify Newcastle’s key threat. If Liverpool keep a cleanie here then the Kyrgiakos could well emerge with another of his Bonus Point hauls.

The Midfield

Tim Cahill
When you have Baines you have to have Cahill. The Aussie has kept Everton’s goal tally ticking over of late and, having established himself as a prime Fantasy target with 4 goals in 6 games, remained on the radar with the assist for Jermaine Beckford’s goal at Stamford Bridge last time out. The supply from Baines on the left has been key to Cahill’s success and there’s every reason to suspect that this will be a major weapon and winning combination again when struggling Wigan visit Goodison this weekend.

Clint Dempsey
The American remains the most potent attacking force in Mark Hughes’ lineup – particularly when he’s given the brief to lead the attack as he has done over the past few weeks. The OPTA weekly statistics, soon available to Members, show that Dempsey has fired in more goal attempts over the past four Gameweeks than any other midfielder. With Mosa Dembele again sidelined, Dempsey will start up front once more and will surely be a threat to a Sunderland defence that is nowhere near as effective on their travels as they are at the Stadium of Light.

Nani
While both Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney offer alternative routes to United’s attacking potential, for my money, Nani remains the most reliable option and allows the exploration of alternatives up front. Monday’s Old Trafford clash with Arsenal is hard to call, but it seems unlikely that the visiting defence will escape unscathed. While United’s goals could come from several sources, it’s hard to imagine Nani not be involved given the influence he now has on Alex Ferguson’s side.

Gareth Bale
While the White Hart Lane clash with Chelsea looks another unpredictable encounter, form suggests that Spurs go into the game as favourites while statistics show that the visitors are unlikely to keep Harry Redknapp’s side at bay. With Rafael Van der Vaart absent once more, goals for Spurs are likely to spring from a source on the left-flank, with Bale up against Paulo Ferreira in Jose Bosingwa’s absence. Bale’s free-kick contributed the assist for Bassong’s goal at Birmingham and the Welshman’s dead-ball delivery and threat from direct free-kicks will likely be a feature once again.

The Forwards

Johan Elmander
So devastating in Gameweek 14, the Swede has bubbled under for the past fortnight drawing blanks against Blackpool and last weekend at City. Don’t be fooled by that, Elmander remains the key weapon in Owen Coyle’s armoury and this weekend he has every chance to add to his impressive goal tally when a Blackburn defence that has conceded 19 goals on their travels, arrive at the Reebok.

Mario Balotelli
A risk perhaps but I just feel that, even with Carlos Tevez, City will have too much for West Ham at Upton Park. Our OPTA Statistics over the last four Gameweeks show that City have improved in attacking terms and have begun to trouble the opponent’s goal on a more regular basis. The hot-headed Balotelli is always a red card timebomb, but I think he’s a gamble worth taking this week, given that he will likely be the focal point of their attack against one of the most obliging defences in the league.