The Bank of Valletta Premier League takes an interesting turn this weekend with the start of the Championship and Relegation Pools. After the staging of the first two rounds, all is set for the start of the real thing – where the points really count towards one’s final destination.

In the Championship Pool, it is evident that four teams are challenging for this year’s title, while in the Relegation Pool, although Mosta seem to be firm candidates already, the other three teams will be battling to avoid the drop.

Today in the opening encounter at Ta’ Qali, league leaders Birkirkara will be facing Msida St Joseph, while in the match that follows, Hibernians will face Valletta. Tomorrow, Sliema and Marsaxlokk clash in what should be the keenest match of the whole lot. In the Relegation Pool, tomorrow’s match is that between Mosta and Pieta Hotspurs.

Birkirkara will be commencing this second phase at the top on 21 points, one ahead of Sliema, two ahead of Hibernians and four ahead of Marsaxlokk. Valletta are nine points adrift of the leaders and Msida 10. At present, these two clubs cannot be considered as championship contenders, even if there are still a lot of matches to be played – 10 in all.

Birkirkara should have little difficulty in beating Msida, thus consolidating their top placing in the standings. The Stripes have beaten Msida twice in the first phase and their recent form indicates that the Stripes carry too many guns for the Saints, who will be playing for the first time in the Championship Pool.

The Saints’ main target this season will be the FA Trophy and now that they have set their minds at rest with regards to relegation, they can play with more tranquillity and give all the title challengers a good run for their money.

The second match today between Hibernians and Valletta puts the Paolites in a position where they cannot afford to lose points, especially if Birkirkara, as expected, win the three points against Msida.

The Paolites will start as favourites against the depleted Valletta, but the latter will be doing their utmost to get closer to the fourth place which, at the end, may mean a place in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, at least.

The Citizens, having secured their place in the Championship Pool, can now play with more confidence but coach Paul Zammit will have to reshuffle the defence as the citizens will have to face the Paolites without the suspended Kevin Cassar and Branco Nisevic, not to mention the injured Massimo Grima, probably out till the end of the season.

Tomorrow’s match between Sliema and Marsaxlokk should be the keenest of the three. Second-placed Sliema will have the slight advantage of knowing the result of the matches involving Birkirkara and Hibernians from the previous day. But this applies also to Marsaxlokk who, I am sure, will be providing a serious challenge till the end.

Both coaches are able to make use of their regular formations and this promises to be a balanced match where the result could go either way.

In their last encounter, the two sides figured in a goalless draw, but that match was played on the artificial surface at the Centenary Stadium. Now it is being played at the Hibs Ground, though, it would have been fairer on all sides had all the Championship Pool matches been played at the same stadium.

Relegation Pool

The first match is that being played tomorrow at the Hibs Ground between Mosta and Pieta Hotspurs.

Pieta are well aware that they cannot miss the bus. It is, in fact, the best opportunity to take the three points and overtake Floriana and Hamrun in the standings, albeit having played a match more than their rivals.

As for Mosta, a victory tomorrow will re-open their hopes of salvation, but a defeat will put them in a more precarious position.