Eights are the most controversial middle pair preflop. These cards must be discarded in early position. You can call in response to a call from one or two opponents. In middle position, you need to call in any case (except, of course, the opponent's raise, after which, as we remember, you should fold the middle pair). If there are tight players at the table and the rallies are proceeding calmly and carefully, you can raise from 99 from middle position if there is no game activity in front of you. The purpose of this raise is to take the pot preflop. At an aggressive table, such a raise will be very unprofitable, because the chance of calling with a bet from late positions is very high, which means that the desired goal of instantly taking the pot will not be achieved.
Nines from late position are played by calling if there are at least two colors, or raising if there are less than two colors.