Super Bowl Preview: The Greatest Show on Turf is only hours away.

The super bowl is upon us. My Bud is chilled the hot dogs are ready, the mustard is ENGLISH and the wife has gone to bed. Thanks to our fantastic friends at BBC Sport, here is a preview taking in full from their website.


SUPER BOWL XLV: Sunday, 6 February at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas - Watch live on BBC 1, BBC 1 HD and on the BBC Sport website (UK only) from from 2245; listen live on 5 live and 5 live sports extra; full coverage details.

Green Bay are slight favourites to win Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Texas on Sunday.

Bookmakers expect the Packers to win by a small margin but the Steelers are playing their third Super Bowl in six years and have a very experienced team.

"Defence is going to be a big factor in this game, and special teams as well," said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.

"There will definitely be momentum swings. I think it's going to be a heck of a game."

The game brings together two of the most storied franchises in the league both of whom have fanatical fanbases.

Organizers are expecting a record Super Bowl crowd in Cowboys Stadium, breaking the current attendance mark for a Super Bowl of 103,667 when Washington beat Miami in 1983 at the Rose Bowl in California.

However, many fans are experiencing problems getting to Dallas as snow has grounded flights both in Texas, which normally enjoys a temperate climate, and across the United States.

Airlines cancelled more than 700 flights to and from Texas on Friday and although warmer temperatures are forecast for Sunday, snow and ice will still be on the ground when Green Bay and Pittsburgh meet under the retractable roof.

The two teams last met in December 2009 with the Steelers winning 37-36 when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a last second touchdown pass, and the Packers have not beaten Pittsburgh in three attempts since 1995.

The contest marks the first Super Bowl meeting between the Steelers and Packers, who boast nine wins between them.

Roethlisberger is playing in his third Super Bowl and could join an elite group as only the fifth quarterback to have won three or more championships.

The 29-year-old guided the Steelers to victories in in Detroit five years ago and in Tampa, Florida in 2009.

"In Detroit I was overwhelmed," Roethlisberger said.

"Tampa was a little bit better. You hope that you just get a little bit more comfortable with it so you won't have the same jitters that you had the first couple of times.

"This game is going to be awesome. This is the ultimate game with the ultimate two teams playing in it."

In contrast, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, 27, is playing in his first Super Bowl.

The California native is in his sixth year as a pro, but has only been starter for the Packers over the last three seasons after Green Bay legend Brett Favre finally left the club for good.

"Everybody I talked to this week that's played in this game has talked about just taking deep breaths and getting over the first few plays," he said.

"Pittsburgh have a great defence. They're very well coached. Defensive coach (Dick) LeBeau is one of the greatest coaches this league has ever seen and he gets them prepared every week to play.

"It's going to be a tough challenge for us and we'll be ready."

The NFL has enjoyed several very close Super Bowl fixtures over the past several years and this Sunday's contest is expected to be no different.

Both teams excelled defensively during the regular season, and Sunday's big game will be only the fourth time that the two teams that have conceded the least points during the regular season will face each other in the Super Bowl.

Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, making his first appearance in the Super Bowl since playing for the Oakland Raiders against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, thinks the game will be decided by who starts faster.

"Both teams have explosive offences and both teams have great quarterbacks who can make plays in any fashion, running or throwing," he said.

If you get up on the scoreboard the defence is going to come in and that is how the game will be won."

Both teams will be close to full strength, although Steelers coach Mike Tomlin may have to do without rookie centre Maurkice Pouncey who was injured during the AFC Championship game against the New York Jets.

"I don't know what his chances are. We will give him every opportunity to take part in the game and remain hopeful," Tomlin said.