After a disappointing outing in European competitions, local champions Sliema Wanderers and FA Trophy holders Birkirkara will this evening play each other for the BOV Super Cup at Ta’ Qali national stadium (kick-off 8pm). The Super Cup is this year being played under new sponsors – Bank of Valletta.

The match serves as a curtain raiser to the Premier League season 2004/2005 which kicks off next Friday.

Sliema and Birkirkara were also finalists of this competition in the previous two consecutive editions, both won by the Stripes. In fact Birkirkara will be chasing their fourth consecutive Super Cup win, having also won the honour in 2002 against Hibernians (1-0).

In 2003 Birkirkara beat Sliema Wanderers 2-0. Last year, Birkirkara won 3-1 after extra time. Their scorers then were Michael Galea, Lucian Dronca and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza. Danilo Doncic had scored Sliema’s goal in normal time which ended in a one-all draw.

Although Birkirkara have recently proved to be tough opponents in Cup finals, Sliema hope that things turn out their way today.

Last month, both teams met in the Euro Challenge Cup competition, before embarking on their Euro commitments in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and UEFA Cup. Sliema beat an understrength Birkirkara side 3-0 with goals from Bogdanovic, Said and Woods.

Today, Birkirkara will surely be a stronger outfit and offer stiffer competition as coach Stephen Azzopardi will probably field all three foreigners - new goalkeeper David Simon, new central defender (recruited after Dronca’s departure) Emil Yanchev as well as Precious Monye who, after missing the Euro Challenge Cup match, has extended his contract with the Stripes. George Malllia, another player who has only returned to fitness recently, is also expected to play for Birkirkara although Roderick Sammut remains doubtful and Mifsud Triganza almost completely ruled out of the match due to injuries. A return of Antoine Zahra, after being included as a substitute in the UEFA Cup match against APOEL last Thursday, will give Birkirkara an added boost.

Sliema’s coach Edward Aquilina, on his part, has few injury problems, albeit a selection headache since he possesses a vast squad.

Sliema have been strengthened by the signings of defender Di Lello and striker Bogdanovic this season, adding to their already strong squad. This makes them slightly favourites to win today’s final, after already having clinched the Euro Challenge Cup, and make up for the last two year’s upsets against their main challengers Birkirkara.

Valletta have won this competition for a record number of six times, followed by Hamrun Spartans on five occasions.