The Bank of Valletta Winter League gets under way this evening at the Tal-Qroqq national Pool with the opening two matches. This weekend’s opening round also sees another two games scheduled to be played tomorrow.

San Giljan will be facing Valletta in the opening match today and this will be followed by the Sliema-Exiles clash.

Tomorrow, Neptunes face Marsascala in the opening encounter at 4pm while Sirens play the ASA Youth Selection (out of competition) at 5.15pm.

Six time winners of the league Sliema will be doing their best to repeat their latest three triumphs in successive years, that is, in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Neptunes will be expected to be their main rivals once again this year. The Balluta Bay wide won the summer championship last season and would relish the chance to add another winter league title to the eight they have won so far since its inception.

San Giljan, Sirens, and to some extent Exiles, though not favourites to win the league, might be expected to give the big guns a good run for their money, while for Marsascala and newcomers Valletta, it should prove to be a good experience in view of the summer championship.