With just a few hours to go until Friday’s 7pm deadline, we roll out our pre-Gameweek members article, offering insight on the armband conundrum for the upcoming round of fixtures.

We’ll assess the key protagonists in this week’s Captain Poll, analyse the Opta numbers and check up on the Rate My Team ratings before offering up a couple of differential options in light of the data analysis.

The Captain Poll

There’s a two-way tussle for our armband affections at the top of Gameweek 5’s Captain Poll.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku are neck and neck on 20% votes apiece ahead of clashes with Watford and Middlesbrough respectively.

The United man has led the way all week after a consolation in last weekend’s derby loss to City took his tally to four strikes in as many matches. Ibra will fancy his chances against a defence that’s conceded at least twice in each of the last three league outings.

Lukaku has climbed into second spot after a superb hat-trick against Sunderland on Monday evening. The in-form Everton striker has now scored five times in his last two for club and country and hosts a ‘Boro backline with a single clean sheet to their name.

Arsenal’s midweek goal hero Alexis Sanchez (11%) leads the chasing pack behind that pair. Utilised as a sub at home to Southampton last time out, the Chilean will surely be unleashed from the first whistle away to Hull as he looks to replicate that 16-point haul away to Watford in his previous league start.

Chelsea pair Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are backed by 9% and 6% respectively for tonight’s home clash with Liverpool.

Costa’s brace against Swansea means he’s the only player to earn points in all four Gameweeks, whilst Hazard has scored and earned maximum bonus in both appearances at the Bridge so far.

Having opened his account for the campaign last weekend, Harry Kane will be boosted by the return of Mousa Dembele for Tottenham’s home clash against Sunderland.

With Sergio Aguero still suspended, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling seem overlooked options for City’s plum home clash with Bournemouth. Both players have racked up a double-figure haul over the last couple of Gameweeks and Pep Guardiola’s team will be heavy favourites to overwhelm the Cherries.

Leicester duo Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have persuaded just 1% of managers they are worthy of the armband for the visit of Burnley. Mahrez returned to form with a midweek Champions League brace against Club Bruges, whilst Vardy has netted in each of the last two Gameweeks.