The Malta Under-21 national team will pay a friendly international match against Tunisia Under-21 at the National Stadium, Ta' Qali, next Sunday at 4pm.

The match against the Tunisians, who are also the country's Olympic team, will be the first in a series of friendlies which are being planned as part of Malta's preparation for next season's European Under-21 Qualifying competition.

These friendlies for the Malta U-21 team are meant to replace the Group matches which have been done away within the Under-21 competition.

In fact, according to the new format the lower-ranked teams have played each other in a series of play-offs, with the winners proceeding to the mini-group stage, before further progress in the competition is sought.

The Tunisians have a number of promising players in their ranks who are playing top class football in their country.

On the part of the Maltese, coach Mark Miller is seeking to keep his team in trim. These matches will also be an opportunity for him to introduce new faces in his squad.

The Under-21 team was eliminated 4-2 on aggregate by Georgia in a two-legged play-off played some weeks ago.

Considering Malta's recent good performances in competition at this level, particularly in the group matches, our team deserves massive support from the Maltese public. It is hoped that this backing will be forthcoming.

Entrance tickets, to be sold at the National Stadium, cost Lm1.50. Women and children go in for free.

Malta’s provisonal squad is:

Goalkeepers:A. Hogg (Pieta H.), M. Montfort (Valletta)

Defenders:E. Agius, C. Failla, K. Formosa, J. Vella (Hibernians),T. Farrugia, J. Mifsud (Msida SJ), S. Bezzina (Valletta), A. Muscat (Sliema W), A. Spiteri (Pieta H.), C. Caruana (Floriana), J. Caruana (Mosta)

Midfielders: A. Agius (Messina),M. Bartolo, D. Falzon (Mosta), P. Fenech (Msida SJ), R. Fenech (Hamrun S), J. Pearson (Hibernians), T.Paris (Qormi)

Forwards: A. Buhagiar (Floriana),J. Sammut Vasquez (L. Warsaw), E. Herrera (Melita), A. Scerri (Qormi), I. Zammit (Valletta)