The Bank of Valletta Premier League continues today and tomorrow with another interesting programme with the highlights being the Marsaxlokk-Sliema match today and tomorrow’s Valletta-Birkirkara encounter.

Apart from these two matches, Hibernians will be facing Msida St Joseph in a Relegation Pool match today while tomorrow, Floriana take on Hamrun Spartans in a Championship Pool clash.

At present, in the Championship Pool, Valletta lead the standings on 21 points, one ahead of Marsaxlokk, four ahead of Birkirkara and five over Sliema. Floriana and Hamrun follow on 17 points each. In the Relegation Pool, Hibernians start with 13 points, followed by Msida on 11. Pieta have eight points while bottom placed Mqabba have six points.

In today’s top match at the Hibs Ground, Sliema will be trying to bounce back following their surprise 3-1 defeat at the expense of the heavily depleted Birkirkara last Thursday.

The Wanderers have dropped to fourth place and it is evident that they cannot afford to miss out on today's three points, if they wish to keep their challenge for the title.

However, Marsaxlokk are more or less in the same position, even if just one point behind the leaders. But the outgoing champions have now gone into a seven-match positive run and will be eager to add another to it.

While Sliema are still expected to be with Alex Muscat and Carlos Eduardo, Marsaxlokk will probably have Malcolm Licari ruled out, but they will welcome back Conceicao, Pullicino, Sammut and Frendo, who were missing from the match against Floriana through suspension.

Tomorrow, Valletta will have the advantage of knowing the result of today’s Marsaxlokk-Sliema clash. If the southern seasiders take all the three points, then the citizens will go all out to gain the three points themselves to get back on top.

The citizens played a blinder on Thursday evening beating Hamrun Spartans 4-1. Tomorrow against Birkirkara, they know that they will be facing a youthful side which dealt a stunning blow to Sliema Wanderers last Thursday, as the Stripes unexpectedly ran out winners 3-1.

The Citizens have to be on full alert against the Birkirkara side which is expected to welcome back midfielder George Mallia and left flanker Lino Galea after both missed out on the Sliema match through injury. And striker Davy Sylla, injured during that same match, is reported to have recovered and is to be included in the starting line-up. However, they will sadly miss central defender Emil Yanchev, who is suspended.

A victory for the Citizens will possibly rule Birkirkara out of contention, but if the Stripes win and Sliema beat Marsaxlokk today, then the title race will get tighter than ever before.

In tomorrow’s first match, Floriana and Hamrun face each other in a match where the two sides will be seeking their first win in the Championship Pool.

The Spartans suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of Valletta while Floriana lost 2-1 against Marsaxlokk last week.

In today’s Relegation Pool match, Hibernians need to win the three points against Msida to steer clear of trouble right from the start of the competition.

The Paolites will, almost certainly, make sure of avoiding relegation by winning the three points as they would open a five-point gap over Msida and another one of eight points over Pieta with just five matches till the end of the competition.

However, Msida will not be throwing in the towel so easily. They also wish to see the gap between them and third placed Pieta increase so as to distance themselves from trouble.

Today the Saints will have Tyrone Farrugia ruled out through suspension, but striker Njongo Priso is to return to the side after serving his one-match suspension.