Premier League leaders Sliema Wanderers will be trying to consolidate their first place at the weekend as the final scramble for important points takes place between today and tomorrow.
In fact, with Marsaxlokk and Msida having completed their first phase programme, it is the turn of the remaining eight teams to play their final first phase encounter.
Today Sliema will be facing their eternal rivals Floriana in an important match for both sides. Preceding it, there will be the clash between Birkirkara and lowly St Patrick.
Tomorrow, bottom placed Lija will be facing Hibernians, while in the final match on the programme, Valletta will be facing Pieta Hotspurs.
After tomorrow’s matches, that is just before the start of the second phase, the teams will be divided into the Championship Pool (top six) and the Relegation Pool (last four) and all the teams’ points collected in the first phase will be deducted by half.
Sliema, in the Championship Pool, and Pieta and Msida, in the Relegation Pool, know that they will be leading the two packs at the start of the second phase. All the remaining positions will be determined this weekend.
Sliema, of course, will be seeking to win the three points against Floriana to consolidate their first place. In fact, they are aware that their fixture is the hardest of the top four as Valletta, Hibernians and Birkirkara should all be expected to win their clashes.
If Sliema win or draw today, then they will also guarantee another Sliema-Floriana clash the next weekend, just at the start of the second phase.
The Blues are expected to have a full squad available today though Orosco Anonam is still doubtful.
On the other hand, Floriana are well aware that only a victory will push them into fifth place, but that will not be their only motivation.
In fact, they have made it clear that they intend to challenge for a place in Europe next season and with new arrivals Mauro Brincat and Anthony Evi Parker among their ranks (the latter will be making his debut today), they seem to have enough challenge to lay their claim.
Birkirkara should not find a lot of problems to overcome lowly St Patrick in the first match this afternoon.
The Stripes seem to have found their rhythm once again in their last two matches and the Saints are bound to be pressed hard in their own area for most of the game.
Tomorrow, both Hibernians and Valletta should also win their clashes handsomely.
The Paolites, in particular, should find little resistance from bottom placed Lija who have continued to show deficiencies in defence, even though they are aware that the Relegation battles will be more important, albeit having little chance of escaping the Drop.
In the second match, Pieta might give Valletta a stiff challenge as the Hotspurs will aim to win more points to start the second phase with a good advantage over the remaining battlers in the Relegation Pool.
But Valletta also need the points, especially if Sliema win against Floriana this afternoon. They would not want to remain far away from the leaders at the start of the second phase.
The citizens must be aware that a defeat tomorrow could possibly ses them dropping to fourth place (if, as expected, Birkirkara and Hibs both win). They will also be trying to snap the disappointing run of three matches in which they have collected only one point.