Sussex TV football pundits Jimmy Hill and Des Lynam are used to going head-to-head in heated encounters over the beautiful game.

But the question is, who is worth more money?

Jimmy, 72, from Hurstpierpoint, now works in the relative backwater of Sky-Sports.com.tv, after a long career as a pundit on BBC's Match Of The Day.

Last year ITV managed a broadcasting coup by bringing East Preston-based smoothie Des, now 57, over from BBC for a £5 million trans-fer fee.

So, there should be no competition. But bidders in a Sotheby's internet auction which starts tomorrow could have other ideas.

Former puppets created by Luck and Flaw for the ITV satirical show Spitting Image, which came off air in 1997, are on sale.

Des is valued at around $650 (£433), while Jimmy is expected to raise a far more impressive $800 (£533).

But each station is talking up its man's credentials.

An ITV Sports spokesman said: "Obviously Desmond has been seriously undervalued. You can't put a value on his immense broadcasting ability.

"The man is a living legend, absolutely priceless. Undervaluing him is certainly something we would never do."

Des, a lifelong Albion fan, is currently taking a well-earned break abroad, away from the rigours of putting a brave face on England's poor showing at Euro 2000.

Jimmy, on the other hand, is still working throughout the summer.

A Sky Sports spokesman said: "Des may be good but Jimmy is absolutely priceless. He has an immense knowledge of the game."

Unsurprisingly for football viewers, he added: "The other day Jimmy gave a half-hour monologue on the game.

"He is recognised as someone who will not be silenced and is a true professional."

Both foam latex head puppets have a little surface dirt and general wear and tear.

A spokesman for the auctioneer, said: "We would not wish to denigrate anyone with our estimated sale prices.

"The values are only that. We cannot predict how much they will go for."

Other Sussex faces in the 200-puppet auction are Hove's former world Middleweight champion boxer Chris Eubank and the actor Lord Olivier, who used to live in Brighton and started the Chichester Festival.

Both are valued at $650 - like Des, $150 less than Jimmy Hill.

Jo Kaddish, chairman of Hurstpierpoint and Sayers Common Parish Council, said: "Jimmy does a lot of good work around here.

"He's the sort of person who will do you a favour, however famous he is.

"As far as people in Hurstpierpoint are concerned he's worth more than the rest of them put together."

The most expensive puppet is likely to be that of Baroness Thatcher, estimated at $3,200, while Tony Blair is expected to go for $2,400.

The Sotheby's spokes-man refused to say whether any of the celebrities featured had expressed an interest in buying their comic doubles.

The online auction lasts for two weeks from tomorrow at: www.sothebys.com