BRISBANE will welcome the return of midfield enforcer Thomas Kristensen for Wednesday night’s crucial AFC Champions League home clash against Kashima Antlers after his telling absence in the Roar’s disappointing 3-1 weekend loss to Perth Glory.

Spain’s Women’s World Cup team has been invited for a free night-out in the sleepy New Zealand city of Palmerston North after claims they quit their base there early out of boredom.

MICK O’Neill celebrated his first winner as a trainer at Randwick of all places with a horse by a sire that has been sitting in a paddock for two years.

CHAMPION South Australian trainer Tony McEvoy will be searching for his next star galloper when he heads to the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale on March 13.

THE Daily Telegraph’s racing editor Ray Thomas believes the old firm of trainer Les Bridge and jockey Tim Clark are set for another trip to the winner’s circle at Warwick Farm.

AUSTRALIAN Tyler Wright and Hawaiian John John Florence started the year as world champions but can they defend the top honour in their sport?

IF you were looking for a single player who personified the Swans’ hard-nosed brand of football it would be hard to go past Jude Bolton.

MARC Diakiese added another highlight to his resume in London when he absolutely blasted Teemu Packalen with a single punch that put a stop to their contest just 30 seconds into the first round.

Brad Rawiller has an affinity with the Kingston Town Classic, having won it twice, and thinks he has the horse to give him a third at Ascot on Saturday.

THE Rebels have faith that Kiwi Jackson Garden-Bachop is the man to “stand up” and lead them to victory as they open the Super Rugby season against the Blues tonight (7.45pm AEDT).

GARBINE Muguruza has ruthlessly ended Magdalena Rybarikova’s improbable Wimbledon quest, destroying the Slovak in brutal fashion.

STEVE O’Keefe has produced the spell of a lifetime to spark an incredible collapse as Australia took a massive stranglehold on day two of the first Test in Pune.

STEVE Smith has won what could prove the most important toss of his career, with Australia to bat first on a hellishly dry pitch in Pune.

INSTINCT tells David Hayes to expect the unexpected in Saturday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

THE AFL does not need a code of conduct on sledging, chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Tuesday.

BEAST mode LeBron James usually emerges deep in the playoffs when the stakes are much higher.

LIFE’S been fairly cruisy for Dahntay Jones these past couple of years.

Australia’s World Cup campaign got underway early on Wednesday morning against defending champions France.

MANNY Pacquiao revealed who he wants his next opponent to be, and unfortunately for Aussie boxing fans, it isn’t Queenslander Jeff Horn.

STEPH Curry’s alarming shooting slump continued as the Golden State Warriors suffered a fourth loss in six games.