The sporting week ahead (02/10/11)

Today

The north London derby will grab the headlines but the meeting between Fulham and Queens Park Rangers has the curiosity value of being the first for a decade. The last time they met in the League, Fulham were on their way up to the Premier League and QPR, under Ian Holloway, about to slip-slide away into the third tier. Expect Craven Cottage to be hopping – with a less poisonous atmosphere than at White Hart Lane. Daniel Sturridge will hope for a starting spot as Chelsea visit under-pressure Bolton. At the Rugby World Cup, Wales's fate will already be decided when you read this; Ireland's might be in the balance if you're eating your breakfast.

Tomorrow

The nearest Lord's normally gets to archery is the Cross Arrows, a curious club which has nothing to do with twanging bows – they play proper games of cricket there in September. But today there will be real arrows pinging across the sward with a test event for the 2012 Olympics. It will be the venue for a sport which is always one of the Games' lesser lights.

Tuesday

And as if this interminable build-up to the Olympics is not enough, today sees the IAAF evaluation commission for London's 2017 World Athletics bid (yes, we're trying to get that, as well).

Wednesday

The rather pompously named Leaders In Football conference is billed as the world's most exclusive business football event. The great and the greedy gather at Stamford Bridge to discuss how to skim even more money from the game. There's not much happening on the pitch this week. Charlton v Brentford is about as good as it gets today.

Thursday

England Under-21s, impressive 6-0 winners over Azerbaijan last time out, will probably settle for any kind of victory in Iceland as they seek a spot in the 2013 European Championships.

Friday

Any kind of result for England's seniors will be good enough in Montenegro. If not, expect Fabio Capello to eclipse Carlos Tevez as the pantomime villain.

Saturday

So awful have the France rugby team been in this World Cup that it is difficult to make out much of a case for them stopping England today in a game that will overshadow rugby league's grand showpiece final at Old Trafford. In football Scotland travel to Liechtenstein.