While League leaders Valletta will be facing the revived Birkirkara side tomorrow, Hibernians and Floriana should be considered favourites to win their clashes this afternoon against Mosta and Balzan respectively.
Also on the programme is an important clash involving Tarxien and Marsaxlokk from the lower part of the standings.
At present, after 19 matches, Valletta lead with 48 points, four ahead of second placed Hibernians and nine ahead of Floriana who occupy third place.
The situation could change in the forthcoming three rounds, that is, till the end of the first phase, following which the points accumulated in the first phase will be deducted by half.
I have always expressed myself contrary to such a system and I still believe that the deduction of the points does not make justice with the leaders, both in the Championship Pool and the Relegation Pool, at the start of the Second Phase. However, I admit that the system brings added interest in the proceedings.
Anyway, in today’s matches, Floriana and Hibernians will be aiming for a victory in the hope that Valletta will slip tomorrow against rivals Birkirkara.
The Greens, however, will have to be at their very best to overcome an expected tough challenge from Balzan Youths.
The latter, despite their heavy defeat against Birkirkara last week, will be seeking to get a positive result to keep their hopes of a Top Six berth very much alive.
Yet, Ivan Zammit’s men have to show a lot of improvement after their crushing defeat at the hands of neighbours Birkirkara. That was certainly a performance which has to be forgotten by the Youths.
The Greens will also have to show improvement after having suffered a rare defeat at the hands of the surprising Mosta side - the most enterprising team during this second round.
Floriana missed the services of Christian Caruana last weekend - suspended for 28 days by the club after walking out on the team last weekend.
Hibernians might also expect a tough challenge from Mosta, who are no longer considered a cushion for any club.
Steve D’Amato has worked wonders since he took over, but main credit goes to the new faces in the side, especially Obinna Obiefule, whose move from Marsaxlokk has been a complete success.
After last week’s win against Floriana, they now look forward with optimism to winning as many points as possible from their remaining encounters to start the second phase in a healthy position. Their main target, of course, is to avoid relegation.
Tomorrow Valletta and Birkirkara cross swords in what might be an uneventful match - contrary to those with which we had become accustomed in the recent past.
Birkirkara are a distant opponent to the citizens in the standings and it does not seem that they will again be involved in the title challenge, even when the points are deducted by half.
This situation makes tomorrow’s match less interesting than usual, but the rivalry will certainly persist.
Moreover, if Hibernians and Floriana win this afternoon, Valletta will be under pressure to win again tomorrow to maintain their current lead at the top.
As for the Stripes, their main aim now is to take part in the Championship Pool in the hope of eventually playing a better Second Phase so as to be able to reach European football next season - one must not forget that they are also out of the U*Bet FA Trophy, having been eliminated by Hamrun Spartans in the last round.
Last week’s fine 4-0 victory over Balzan Youths not only saw them scoring the goals that matter after so many misses in previous matches, but they also played some delightful football, inspired by the return to the side of striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who had a most successful debut.
The match between Marsaxlokk and Tarxien Rainbows tomorrow is another opportunity for either side, especially Marsaxlokk, to try and win important points in their battle against relegation.