Malta today faces joint Group 6 leaders Belgium at Ta' Qali (kick-off 5pm) in what is expected to be a potentially difficult match.

Belgium lead the group together with Sweden and are battling to win the Group to make sure of qualifying for the finals. And that is why this is a very difficult match for the Maltese youngsters as Belgium are certainly here to take all the three points, even if they know that a second place may also enable them (or Sweden for that matter) to qualify.

Coach Silvio Vella said yesterday his youngsters are well prepared for this match.

"We have been training together this week and the week before thanks to the stoppage for international football. The players have responded well and I certainly cannot expect more than they have done.

"Although Belgium are a very strong side, we will be doing our best to obtain a good result. When we played the away match, we had lost 2-1, but we could have obtained a draw," he said.

Vella said he only had one player - Neil Tabone - missing as he is injured. However, he has other players now with the national squad in the Faroe Islands although Jake Grech and Dunstan Vella are back with Vella's squad.

Grech said yesterday that the players were aware that the opponents tomorrow will be difficult. "But we have worked hard for this match. We are all looking forward to give the Belgians a good run for their money," he added.

Apart from Grech and Vella, the squad includes experienced players like Jean Borg, Myles Beerman, Jake Grech, Jurgen Degabriele and Kyrian Nwoko who have already made their senior mark during a training camp in Austria last June.

Birkirkara's Kurt Zammit returns after missing the last match against Sweden through injury.

Another Birkirkara player, Matthew Guillaumier, who missed most of last season following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, is also included in Vella's squad.

There are also three newcomers - Yannick Yankam, Christian Mercieca and Jan Busuttil.

The following is Silvio Vella's squad

Goalkeepers - Jake Galea (Sliema Wanderers), Matthew Grech (Floriana).

Defenders - Jean Borg (Valletta), Kurt Shaw (Sliema Wanderers), Karl Micallef (Ħamrun Spartans), Kurt Zammit (Birirkara), Michele Sansone (Sliema Wanderers), Dunstan Vella (Hibernians).

Midfielders - Myles Beerman (Birkirkara), Matthew Guillaumier (Birkirkara), Nikolai Muscat (Gżira United), Yannick Yankam (Qormi), Zach Scerri (Gżira United), Dylan Agius (Pieta' Hotspurs), Jake Grech (Birkirkara).

Forwards - Jurgen Degabriele (Hibernians), Zachary Brincat (Mosta), Jan Busuttil (Pieta' Hotspurs), Kyrian Nwoko (Valletta), Christian Mercieca (Victoria Hotspurs).