Five key moments in battle for Number 10

Today 11am

Ed Balls on Nick Robinson show, Radio 4

What Balls wants to convey
Brown has the policies and personality to make a great prime minister. All the stories about plots are rubbish. We should be focusing on the real enemy, David Cameron.

Banana skins
Anything that will allow the Sunday papers to suggest the Brown camp takes the succession for granted, is fearful of a leadership contest and is out to stifle debate.

What the other side is looking for
Clues on the likely content and tone of Brown's speech. Antennae will be finely tuned for the faintest hint that Brown is hatching a conference coup.

Sunday 9am

Blair on Sunday AM with Andrew Marr

What Blair wants to convey
This is my conference swansong. I'm going but in my own time because I've got a record to be proud of and there are things to do first.

Banana skins
Suggesting that this could take longer than six to nine months.

What the other side is looking for
The Blairite outriders have been muzzled. Recognition that an orderly transition means it has to be Brown.

Sunday 12pm

Brown on The Politics Show

What Brown wants to convey
I have the vision to get us out of the mess Blair has caused, and actually I'm not a control freak but a regular guy.

Banana skins
Overdoing the regular guy bit and coming over oily and awkward. Failing to repeat mantra that Blair must choose the time of his own departure.

What the other side is looking for
The Brownite outriders have been muzzled. Unconditional loyalty.

Monday 11.30am

Brown speech to conference

What Brown wants
Standing ovation, headlines praising his statesmanlike vision, spontaneous feeling at conference that it has to be him and it has to be soon.

Banana skins
Stridency, nerdiness, seeming to want it just a bit too much.

What the other side is looking for
Unconditional loyalty, slightly perfunctory standing ovation. The future of Blairism guaranteed.

Tuesday 3pm

Blair speech to conference

What Blair wants
Yes, it's been tough lately and the die is now cast. There will be a new leader this time next year but, oh boy, are you lot going to be sorry when I'm gone. Are you really sure you prefer Gordon?

Banana skins
No, I'm not sure either, so after careful thought I've decided to stick it out until 2008.

What the other side is looking for
The biggest danger to the New Labour project is a bloody civil war. None of this would have been possible without the support of my old friend Gordon, and it's now time for me to plan a quiet, dignified exit.