With the hours ticking down until this evening’s 6.45pm deadline, it’s time for our pre-Gameweek members’ article examining the key captaincy contenders for the midweek round of fixtures.

To get underway, we take a look at the leading players in this week’s Captain Poll, then check out the Opta numbers and Rate My Team ratings before considering a differential or two.

The Captain Poll

After serving up a hat-trick and 17 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points at home to Newcastle United last time out, Sergio Aguero is the standout candidate in our Gameweek 25 Captain Poll and earns 40% backing.

The number one pick for transfers in this week, Manchester City’s frontman has fired eight goals in seven appearances across all competitions since the turn of the year.

Up next, he entertains a West Bromwich Albion defence with a single clean sheet in their last 11 on the road.

The Baggies’ porous away record promotes Raheem Sterling (5%) and Kevin De Bruyne (2%) as differential armband picks – both have supplied four double-figure hauls apiece at the Etihad Stadium and were on the scoresheet in the weekend cup win at Cardiff.

Mohamed Salah (20%) is seen as the chief alternative to Aguero for Liverpool’s trip to Huddersfield Town.

Faith in the Reds’ attack took a dent after their lacklustre 1-0 loss at Swansea City last week, yet the Egyptian’s track record – returns in 13 of his last 15 and 10 sets of double-digits for the season – still makes for very convincing record.

Up against a defence with one clean sheet in eight, Roberto Firmino earns a mere 2% backing – yet the Brazilian has supplied double-figures in three of his last four away starts.

Eden Hazard is rated as the best of the rest, though only 6% are considering him for a home encounter against Bournemouth.

The Belgian has netted three times in his last three over all competitions and has a fine record in top-flight encounters with the Cherries, scoring in each of his last four against Eddie Howe’s men. He could be handed a “false 9” role on Wednesday, with Alvaro Morata still sidelined due to a back complaint.

With 42 points in his last four at Stamford Bridge, Marcos Alonso (1%) joins a host of overlooked in-form candidates. The Chelsea wing-back maintained that outstanding form by supplying a goal and assist in the 3-0 FA Cup home win over Newcastle.

For once, Harry Kane is among the also-rans as Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head with Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.

Nine goals in his last five starts underline Kane’s form, yet, up against the league’s joint-best defence, just 4% are willing to gamble. A single goal in six league starts against United is hardly encouraging, either.

A winter switch to Old Trafford has earned Alexis Sanchez 2% backing for this one – the Chilean produced 36 FPL points in his final five away appearances for Arsenal.

Riyad Mahrez is another overlooked option as Leicester make their way to Everton.

The Algerian has scored or assisted in nine of the last 11 Gameweeks and squares up to a Toffees’ defence that’s lacked resilience of late – Big Sam’s side are without a clean sheet in four, conceding nine times in that run.