The real fight for points in the local Premier League starts today as the second phase gets under way.
There is no doubt that this season, the Championship and Relegation Pools promise much more interest than usual with the title battle being contested by at least four from six clubs and the Relegation tussle being fought out by at least three from four clubs.
Never since the Premier League started with such a format have we had such an interesting situation where the top four teams in the Championship Pool will start with a difference of five points separating the first, Sliema, from the fourth, Birkirkara.
Even the Relegation Pool, there are five points separating Pieta from third placed St Patrick, but while there are still 10 matches to be played by each club in the Championship Pool, the Relegation Pool have only six games available to try and save their status.
The programme starts today at the national stadium where Valletta first meet Marsaxlokk to be followed by the Birkirkara-Hibernians clash.
Tomorrow, at the Hibs Ground, Lija face St Patrick and Sliema face Floriana.
The match between Valletta and Marsaxlokk promises to be a close contest as the two sides seem to have been strengthened considerably in the January transfer window, especially the southern seasiders who have signed two of the most promising youngsters - Andre Schembri and Cleaven Frendo.
Both of them have already left their mark in the later stages of the first phase as Marsaxlokk showed an improvement which landed them in fifth place after having occupied sixth place for most of the time.
Valletta have strengthened the defence with the arrival of Branco Nisevic and the front line with the signing of the returning Chris Oretan.
They might be found wanting in midfield, unless coach JJ Aquilina springs a surprise and makes use of Massimo Grima to strengthen that sector, leaving the back in the hands of Nisevic.
In the match that follows, it is certainly a do-or-die affair for Birkirkara who cannot afford to lose this battle if they are to remain hoping.
The Stripes have been the most inconsistent side of the four at the top, dropping several points when they were expected to win them all.
Somehow or other, they are still in the hunt, though they have a mountain to climb in this second phase.
Stripes coach Stephen Azzopardi will again have to reshuffle his defence as he will have two players missing - Mark Anthony Bonnici and Precious Monye - through suspension. But William Camenzuli will be returning after a one-match ban.
The Paolites are expected to be at full strength and although they were very unimpressive in their narrow 1-0 defeat against Lija last weekend, they still remain, in my opinion, second favourites, behind Sliema, for the title.
In Andrew Cohen, Peter Pullicino and Terence Scerri, they have three very good players who are passing through a very bright patch.
Tomorrow, Sliema will have to play their match against Floriana at the Hibs Ground even though they should be playing at Ta' Qali.
Yet, they will have the advantage of knowing what to go for as their challengers will all be in action today, although the first priority will always be the three points.
They have a psychological advantage over their 'Old Firm' rivals, because only last week, they beat the Greens 1-0 in the last first phase fixture.
For Floriana, it is a difficult fixture, but the Greens are aware that a victory will put them strongly in contention for the second place, and a slot in next season's UEFA Cup.
In the Relegation Pool match, St Patrick should start as favourites against bottom placed Lija, who will also be handicapped with the absence of midfielder Gordon Camenzuli through suspension.
The Saints have made great strides forward in their last few matches and are now in a good position to fight to save their status with Msida just three points above them and Pieta five.
Lija's task is even more difficult as they start on seven points, that is four behind Msida and six behind Pieta. That means they are forced to win this match to remain in the hunt.