Swansea host Wrexham on Saturday (20:00 BST) in a growing Welsh rivalry, though over 100 miles separate the cities. Wrexham enters off a 3-0 win at Millwall, while Swansea beat Watford 24 hours earlier. Two genuine local derbies also feature: Preston North End vs Blackburn Rovers on Saturday lunchtime (12:30), and Birmingham City vs Wolves on Sunday (12:00). Blackburn won both encounters last season and remain unbeaten in their past five against the Lilywhites (W3 D2). Paul Heckingbottom's side have lost four straight and remain the only team without a point, while Rovers have five points from four matches. Wolves' visit to St Andrew's marks their first meeting in eight years; they did the double over Blues in 2017-18 en route to promotion. Birmingham aim to preserve their unbeaten start (three draws).

Bristol Rovers' transformation since Steve Evans took charge in December 2025 has been remarkable. The 63-year-old inherited a club on a 10-match losing streak and in the League Two relegation zone. Evans guided them to safety and a 14th-place finish. Rovers have won 14 of their last 18 league games under him, collecting 41 points—more than any other side in that span—and lost just twice. After a 3-2 opening-day defeat at York City, they've won three straight to top the table.

"The position in the table doesn't really matter at this stage," Evans told BBC Radio Bristol. "It's easily said when you're sitting up there, but the reality is you'd rather be first than anywhere else."

This weekend, the Gas host Rotherham United—a club where Evans enjoyed back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship between 2012 and 2014. "I think the first years I had at Rotherham were really special," he said. "I always will have a love for that football club inside me but that's where it stops. My job on Saturday is to try and beat them."