NFL Super Bowl XLIX preview: Seahawks aim to retain trophy in tight contest with the Patriots

The NFL's best defence faces the best coach and quarterback tandem in Arizona on Sunday, as Seattle and New England meet in Super Bowl XLIV.

The Seahawks head to the University of Phoenix stadium looking to become only the eighth side to win back-to-back Super Bowls, while the Patriots target their first victory in NFL's showpiece event since 2005.

More than 100 million people globally are expected to watch the season finale, with pundits anticipating one of the tightest contests in recent memory. 

Live NFL - Super Bowl XLIX

Battle of the best

It's the top seeds from the two conferences meeting in the final for the second year running, with the Seahawks on an eight match winning run and the Patriots boasting a 14-4 record for the season.  

Seattle's Russell Wilson holds a 10-0 record against Super Bowl winning quarterbacks and can become the first QB to win two Super Bowl titles in his first three seasons with victory on Sunday. 

Seahawks HC Pete Carroll is targeting victory against his former side, having coached The Patriots for three seasons before Bill Belichick. 

The reigning champions will provide a tough defence for the New England offence, having topped the charts in points, yards and passing yards per game during the post-season. 

Team news

Both sides are expected to have a full roster available, with neither side having any players sit out of mid-week training.

Patriots QB Tom Brady admitted to be suffering with a cold earlier this week, although has shown no issues with his long-standing ankle injury.

Centre Bryan Stork (knee) returned to training after missing last week’s drills, while DT Chris Jones (elbow), LB Dont'a Hightower (shoulder) and DL Sealver Siliga (foot) are all set to be fit.

The Seahawksshould be at full strength with the whole squad training ahead of Sunday’s showdown.  RB Marshawn “I’m just here so I won’t get fined” Lynch (back) and CB Richard Sherman (elbow) both available for Carroll’s side.

Their only scare came towards the end of Friday practice when Kam Chancellor suffered a knee injury. Team officials said he would usually be classed as 'probable' were this a regular season game.

New England near misses

While the Brady-Belichick combination has prodcued three Super Bowl victories, the pair will be keen to avoid a third consecutive final loss in what could well be the final chance to cement their place among the NFL's all-time great duos. 

The Patriots return to the same venue this weekend where they suffered a shock defeat to the Giants seven years ago, while New England also missed out against the same opposition in 2012 when they squandered a final quarter lead in a 21-17 defeat.

At 37, Brady is running out of time to add a record-equalling fourth victory. The QB's statistics haven't come close to his previous high standards this season, but can the two-time Super Bowl MVP end the year with a long-awaited title? 

Watch Super Bowl XLIV live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 3 from 10pm on Sunday.