Leaders Valletta and their immediate (and only) challengers Hibernians face off in today’s showdown at Ta’ Qali - a match expected to attract a bumper crowd to the National Stadium.
To complement the afternoon, there is also the clash between the two old rivals of Maltese football – Sliema W. and Floriana – prior to the big clash.
At present - today’s big clashes get the last batch of the first round in the second phase under way.
With the citizens leading Hibs by three points it is obvious that Valletta will be happy with a draw which will see them retaining their three-point lead, but I cannot see Mark Miller’s men going for a draw which might also offer partial satisfaction, after all.
In that scenario, nothing will be lost as there will still be five matches to play, but the Paolites are certainly aware that they cannot afford defeat this afternoon.
If Valletta win, one might be able to say that the citizens would be almost 75 per cent sure, if not more, of retaining the title for another season – a six-point gap will not be easy to bridge in just five matches.
This situation makes today’s encounter a really big showdown with the Paolites throwing all their might on this encounter to remain in contention.
Both coaches will have key players missing through suspension. Miller will have to do without Jackson Lima who has been a protagonist in the side since he joined the Paolites in the January transfer market. Some consolation for Miller is the fact that goalkeeper Mario Muscat will be back in the side having avoided another suspension - he was only removed from the captaincy of the team for one month.
On their part, Valletta’s Jesmond Zerafa will have to do without solid defender Steve Borg who is, like Lima, suspended.
It is a match from which the citizens hope to emerge unscathed. They are well aware that they need two of three results - a win or a draw will make them quite happy. A defeat will see them being joined at the top once again by their opponents, but their run towards the title will possibly become more difficult.
In their last encounters, Valletta defeated their rivals and neighbours Floriana 2-0, while Hibernians defeated Balzan Youths 4-1.
The other match this afternoon sees Floriana and Sliema fighting for that third or fourth place which might mean a berth in the Europa League next season.
At present, Floriana are in fourth place, two points behind Birkirkara and four ahead of Sliema.
The situation is clear. Both teams have to go out for the three points in the knowledge that Birkirkara could be expected to win the three points when they meet bottom placed club Balzan Youths on Monday evening.
Even here, both sides will have a player missing through suspension. They are Floriana’s Joseph Borg and Sliema’s Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
In their last encounters, Floriana lost 2-0 against Valletta, while Sliema could only draw 1-1 against Birkirkara.