Champions Birkirkara will be meeting Trophy holders Hibernians in the match for the Super Cup this evening at the Ta’ Qali national stadium (kick-off 7.30pm).

It is the curtain raiser for the new season even though it concerns the winners of the two major domestic competitions of last season.

This season’s Bank of Valletta Premier League gets under way tomorrow week.

Both teams have won the competition on previous occasions in its history. The Stripes have won it on three occasions, while the Paolites have inscribed their name on the trophy once.

The two teams have already met this season in the pre-season Euro Challenge Cup tournament when Hibernians emerged winners by 3-2.

Today, the two teams will have several players missing from their respective line-ups.

Hibernians have Malta striker Andrew Cohen sidelined through injury while Peter Pullicino and Roderick Baldacchino do not form part of the squad any longer, having been transferred to Msida St Joseph during the week. The Paolites will also have Nigerian striker Haruna Doda missing from their line-up. He has moved to Marsaxlokk this season.

On their part, the Stripes will certainly lack the qualities of strikers Etienne Barbara and Michael Galea, both still nursing injuries, as well as Adrian Ciantar, who is only expected back in the side later this year.

Coach Stephen Azzopardi now has a problem with his four foreigners. From now on he will have to make use of only three of them at any time during domestic matches. And with the arrival of former Valletta goalie Sean Sullivan, he might be tempted to introduce Sullivan, thus giving the three field players - Angelo Paradiso, Guido Gallovich and Sbai Hatim - more chance to integrate themselves in the team.