The Bank of Valletta Premier League resumes this weekend with the usual matches – three from the Championship Pool and another from the Relegation Pool.

And it promises to be a very interesting weekend with some keenly contested matches anticipated.

Today the programme starts with the match between Sliema and Hibernians and this will soon be followed by the fiery clash between Valletta and current leaders Birkirkara.

Tomorrow, Floriana and Hamrun meet in an important Relegation Pool game and it will be followed immediately by the Championship Pool clash between Marsaxlokk and Msida SJ.

It is an important weekend where Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk will be seeking to maintain their current positive run while Sliema and Hibernians, in particular, have to be on the alert to remain as close as possible with the leaders.

The match between the two sides this afternoon should certainly be a cliffhanger and it is perhaps more important for Hibernians if they wish to remain in the chase for the title.

The Paolites were unlucky to have lost to Valletta last week. Not only did they lose the points due to some controversial refereeing decisions, but they have also lost top striker Terence Scerri for the rest of the season.

On their part, Sliema will be without striker Daniel Bogdanovic, who has been suspended by the club for 28 days. They are coming from a disappointing defeat against Marsaxlokk and they will obviously be eager to return to winning form to move closer to Birkirkara if the Stripes are eventually halted in their stride by the rampant and improving Valletta.

In any case, both Sliema and Hibernians will have to show better form than of late, if they are to offer serious opposition to the Stripes till the very end.

Birkirkara are, without doubt, the best team at present. They have a very strong squad with most of their players back to full fitness and showing they are in top form. They are displaying the best football and deserve to be at the top. If they continue in this vein, it will be difficult for any of the title contenders to take them off their perch at the top.

Today, the Stripes have also been given a helping hand by Lady Luck as they will be facing a depleted Valletta side. Already without the injured central defender Massimo Grima, the citizens also have to face the music without their best player Gilbert Agius and midfielder Keith Fenech. Both are suspended.

Of some consolation to the Lilywhites will be the return of Branko Nisevic and Kevin Cassar at the back while they will be hoping that Argentine striker Sebastian Omar Monesterolo will find his scoring touch once again as he did last week when he scored a magnificent hat-trick against Hibernians.

Despite being nine points adrift of Birkirkara, the citizens are still harbouring hopes of eventually landing one of the berths in European football next season.

In tomorrow’s clash, Marsaxlokk should be able to defeat Msida St Joseph to maintain their challenge to the Stripes.

The southern seasiders will have the advantage of knowing the result of the Birkirkara-Valletta and Sliema-Hibs matches of the previous day, but will be under pressure to win all the points at stake if Birkirkara win again.

Against Msida, Marsaxlokk will be aiming to extend their positive run, especially as they are considered favourites with the Saints also losing experienced defender Daniel Theuma through suspension.

In the Relegation Pool match, Floriana and Hamrun Spartans will be going all out to collect three very precious points which could also prove their salvation.

The two sides will probably be happy to get away with a point apiece from this encounter, after Mosta beat Pieta last week. That result not only enabled Mosta to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation alive, but also enabled Floriana and Hamrun to keep their distance from the two bottom placed clubs.

At present, the two clubs have ten points, Pieta are on eight and Mosta are at the bottom on 7 points.