Current league leaders Birkirkara can extend their lead at the top this evening if they beat Valletta in the second match.

The league leaders were further boosted yesterday evening as the MFA’s protest board did not upheld Sliema’s protest against the result of their match against Marsaxlokk.

Current champions Sliema claimed that Marsaxlokk’s Steve Wellman who was suspended on 8 March was ineligible to play against them.

However yesterday the protest board upheld Sliema’s protest confirming the 1-0 victory for Marsaxlokk, leaving the champions five clear points behind leaders Birkirkara.

Further disciplinary action will be taken today against Marsaxlokk’s Steve Wellman.

In the first match on the programme, Hamrun Spartans face a do-or-die clash against Floriana in a match in connection with the Relegation Pool.

The Stripes are enjoying a five-point lead at the top over second placed Sliema and, in the event of a win against the citizens, will put a lot of pressure on the Wanderers who will have to wait till tomorrow to play their match in hand against Hibernians.

The Stripes have maintained their impressive unbeaten run and have been playing consistently well since the final few matches of the first round.

But against Valletta this evening, it will not be easy as the Stripes will still have to cope without some of their injured players, foremost among whom remains George Mallia, who is not yet 100 per cent fit.

The citizens, on their part, are still battling for a berth in next season's UEFA Cup - their only remaining hope is through a third placing in the League. And they will be expected to do their utmost to try and grab the three points at stake.

Meanwhile, in the other match, Hamrun Spartans seem to have one more chance to get back into the reckoning in the Relegation Pool after two consecutive defeats which have seen them being pushed to bottom place.

With a whole round of three matches still to be played, they still entertain hopes of avoiding relegation, but they will have to pull their socks up this evening and beat Floriana to get back on track.

In that case, they would join the same Floriana and Mosta on 13 points, just one point away from the Pool leaders Pieta.