This season’s Championship Pool ?due to start on Tuesday 11 March ?is expected to be one of the tightest since the Premier League was inaugurated in this format.

Leading the standings will be Valletta on 18 points, followed by Marsaxlokk on 17, Sliema on 16 with Floriana, Birkirkara and Hamrun S. at the other end, but on 14 points.

This means that only four points separate the six teams and all the six clubs still have everything to play for.

In the first phase we have had Valletta definitely showing more consistency and that is, perhaps, the main reason, why they are leading the standings at this stage.

No one can say that there is a big difference between the levels of the six clubs. From what we have seen in the first phase, it is obvious that there is a certain balance between the six clubs which will certainly guarantee a healthy competition, probably till the very end.

In my opinion, Valletta, Marsaxlokk and Sliema deserve to be occupying the top three placings, even if not far from the rest.

As already said, Valletta showed more consistency, especially in their results, while Marsaxlokk and Sliema, had their ups and downs with the defending champions, quite unexpectedly, losing heavily to Valletta and Hamrun 7-0 and 7-3 respectively.

Valletta, with Victor Sciriha as their president, seem to have built a strong side and coach Paul Zammit is still able to rely heavily on skipper Gilbert Agius. The latter is reaching veteran age, but is still one of the most valuable assets in the City line-up.

Argentine striker Sebastian Monesterolo also had a good say in City’s revival, especially in the second round of the first phase. He had started the season badly and by December, was on the verge of being substituted by another foreigner in the City squad. Now he seems to have struck his best form and is leading the goal-scorers?list once again.

Apart from those two mishaps against Valletta and Hamrun, Brian Talbot’s Marsaxlokk still seem to be strong challengers for the title.

The champions also had a poor start to the season but in the second phase, they managed a good run of consistency which produced a good flow and some very good results, including splendid wins over Birkirkara and Floriana.

Sliema Wanderers remain an enigmatic side. They changed their coach midway through the first phase ?from Ray Farrugia to Stephen Azzopardi ?but the side still struggles to show the form which one expects from the several top players in their squad.

The Blues, however, are still firmly in contention and they will definitely be in the running till the end of the competition.

Floriana’s fans must have been disillusioned at the end of this first phase.

They had started like a house on fire and led the standings for a long time, giving the impression that they would be serious title challengers ?until they started to slide down the standings. At the end, instead of winning a place at the very top, they were made to fight hard to avoid the Relegation Pool.

Coach Danilo Doncic has done a lot towards Floriana’s revival this year, but their lack of consistency is letting them down. To be fair, they were hit by injuries and suspensions to some of their best players, but after all, which did not have such problems?

The same can be said of Birkirkara who have disappointed their large number of followers this season.

It must be mentioned, however, that the Stripes have rebuilt their side almost from scratch this season and it is to the merit of coach John Buttigieg that the side finally managed to clinch a Top Six berth.

The Stripes?main fault lies in attack where it seems as if they find a lot of difficulty in finding their opponents?net.

Hamrun Spartans have been one of the revelation sides of the season. To be fair, I never expected them to join the Top Six.

But coach Marco Gerada has worked wonders with his squad which includes experienced and young players, who seem to be fighting for their lives every time they are in action.

One thing I am sure of. When the competition starts, and probably till the end, we will witness some very close matches which could go either way.

At present, Valletta have a slight lead, but everything can be turned the other way round in a match or two ?and ten more matches still remain to be played by each club.

Relegation Pool

For Hibernians, this year’s experience will be completely new. They have never in their history been relegated. Not that they are going to be relegated this season. Perhaps far from it, but there is still no guarantee.

It was, however, a humiliation for such a prestigious club to be dumped among the last four and made to fight for a place in next season’s Premier League.

The Paolites will start this round with a two-point lead over Msida and five over Pieta as every team has to play six matches.

Coach Robert Gatt will now have the great onus of reviving the shattered morale of the side. In fact, it is imperative for the side to win their opening clash against Msida to cruise more easily into their following commitments. Otherwise, they must also expect a tough time.

Msida, in fact, have also been a revelation side this season, especially in the second round of the first phase.

Their fight for survival in the late stages was remarkable and they only just failed to make it to the Top Six.

Coach Patrick Curmi, however, must be satisfied with the overall performance of his squad and must be looking forward towards a comfortable run which will lead his side to safety.

Carmel Busuttil, at the helm of Pieta Hotspurs, will certainly be hoping that his side will show more consistency, now that the moment of truth has arrived.

The Hotspurs will start with minus five points from Hibernians, and three below Msida St Joseph.

They know that every three points are precious from now on and they hope to be able to field their best possible formation so as to maintain their challenge to the other two clubs.

The remaining team, Mqabba, will start with just three points, and, as such, must be considered already as firm favourites for the Drop to next year’s first division.

New coach Bobby Giorev has had an outstanding debut as the side clinched a victory against Msida in their last first phase match on Monday evening.

Now he hopes to follow that with some other positive results which might keep their albeit slim hopes alive.