Some major clashes characterise this weekend of Premier League football as the competition has now entered its 18th week.

The battle for the precious points is now intensifying and one expects some very tense and keen clashes from now till the end of the first phase as each club will be doing its best to achieve the biggest number of points possible to be able to improve their positions with regards to the Second Phase.

The programme starts today with two very important clashes. They are both major games with Floiriana facing Birkirkara in the first match and Sliema coming up against Valletta in the second.

Tomorrow, in the first match, Mqabba and Tarxien clash in a bottom of the table match while Hibernians face Hamrun in the final game of the round.

The match between Floriana and Birkirkara promises to be a keenly fought affair with both teams searching for the three points.

With Floriana almost assured of their berth in the Top Six, it is Birkirkara who will be looking more seriously towards the three points so as to consolidate their place.

They are aware that together with Sliema, Qormi and Balzan, they are fighting for three places in the Top Six, considering that Valletta are already assured of that place while Hibernians and Floriana are practically there.

However, the Greens will also be aiming for the three points as they have kept their title hopes alive – one must not forget that the points will be halved at the end of this phase, thus starting the second phase closer to the leading team.

These are the reasons why this clash promises to be keenly contested by both teams.

The Greens have been playing some flowing football of late and have been consistent in their results. On the other hand, Birkirkara have been a big disappointment this season with their lack of scoring power being their main downfall.

In the second match this afternoon, Sliema have a tough task against league leaders Valletta as they try to avenge the 5-2 FA Trophy defeat last weekend.

On that day, Sliema squandered a 2-0 half-time lead as they went on to suffer a humiliating defeat which could have even been of bigger proportions.

Valletta earned the jeers of their own fans for a poor first half performance and the City clan must have been worried at the interval. But Jesmond Zerafa’s peptalk worked wonders – the citizens were a completely transformed side on the changeover.

That was the best City must have produced throughout the whole season so far. If they are in that same vein today, I would say that the Blues have no chance whatsoever of holding their opponents at bay.

The Tarxien-Mqabba clash tomorrow also promises to be interesting.

Both clubs are in the lower part of the standings with Mqabba eighth on 16 points and Tarxien 11th on 13.

It is evident that the two sides will be eager to emerge winners. Such points will prove to be very important at the start of the second phase where they are expected to figure in the Relegation Pool.

Hibernians will have the advantage of knowing the City result when they face Hamrun tomorrow. Of course, they will know what they will have to do although victory will always be on their minds from the outset.

After their easy win against first division side Rabat in the FA Trophy last week, the Paolites will be eager to maintain that form to beat the Spartans and collect a further three points.

But the Spartans, ninth in the standings on 15 points, also need the points for different reasons.

Their elimination from the FA Trophy of the more illustrious Birkirkara side was a big boost for the whole clan.

They now look forward to do better in the league so as to improve their chances of avoiding the Big Drop.