Smallville and Enterprise go head to head in the US in the autumn.

As well as confirming there will be a third series of Smallville, the WB have announced that the show will be moved to Wednesdays. There, it will be the lead-in show for Angel, also recently commissioned for a fifth season.

The move will put it in the 8pm timeslot, currently the home of Enterprise, also renewed for a third season. The news will come as a bitter blow to the producers of the Trek series, who have seen their show dwindle in the ratings and suffer harsh criticism from the fans and the press.

About the move, Jordan Levin, president of The WB, said:

"Paired with Angel, the show viewers and critics begged us to return, we have a formidable action-fantasy block with massive male appeal and stars women and teens love as well.

"In addition, James Marsters will join Angel as Spike, and other visitors from Sunnydale will be seen in Joss Whedon's world, which will take an uptown turn out of the darkness this fall."