Malta faces Iceland in Reykjavik this afternoon in a match between the two bottom sides of Group 8.

Both teams have a point apiece following the goalless draw in Malta last October. Iceland today will have the home advantage and are the favourites to collect the three points at stake.

Malta are somewhat demoralised after the 6-0 debacle at the hands of Sweden last Saturday, but coach Horst Heese and his assistant Carmel Busuttil are expected to retain more or less the same formation.

Certainly missing from the line-up is Sliema striker Ivan Woods who is suspended after picking up a second yellow card in the match against Sweden. His place in the starting line-up is expected to be filled by his Sliema team-mate Claude Mattocks or Birkirkara’s midfielder George Mallia.

The team should not differ much from the following:

Justin Haber; Peter Pullicini, Brian Said, Luke Dimech, Adrian Pulis; Kevin Sammut, Stefan Giglio, Gilbert Agius, Roderick Briffa; Michael Mifsud, Claude Mattocks (George Mallia).

Their intention is to at least avoid defeat, but it will not be easy considering that Iceland have several of their players playing among some top clubs in Europe, among them Chelsea’s top striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Iceland, however, also have their own problems and coach Stefán Stefánsson has been forced to make wholesale changes to his side following Saturday’s 3-2 home reverse against Hungary.

Heidar Helgason, Ólafur Örn Bjarnason, Kristján Örn Sigurdsson and Indridi Sigurdsson are all suspended for the Group 8 match, while Gylfi Einarsson is an injury doubt.

Youngster Olafur Eiriksson Bjarni is line to make his debut.

The last time the two teams met at the Reykjavik Stadium in a competitive match was four years ago, almost exactly to the day. It was a World Cup qualifier on 2 June and Iceland had emerged winners 3-0.

(Preview of today’s other matches, fixtures and standings on opposite page)