The two title chasers - Hibernians and Valletta - face difficult tasks today as the second phase - Championship and Relegation Pools - get under way.

In the opening match, the leaders, Hibernians, will be facing Marsaxlokk, while in the match that follows, Valletta take on Sliema Wanderers.

Tomorrow, third placed Birkirkara will be facing Floriana soon after the first match in the Relegation Pool, that is, Qormi-Tarxien.

At present, the title race seems to be restricted to leaders Hibernians and their immediate followers Valletta who are just one point behind. Birkirkara are third, five points behind the leaders.

The Paolites and the unbeaten citizens have been the most consistent teams in the first phase, with the Paolites showing the best football and the citizens gaining the results they needed despite offering less attractive football.

However, from now onwards, it is the points from these matches that really count in the final run-in to the title.

Starting from this afternoon's programme of matches, both Valletta and Hibernians will be looking forward to maintain their distance from Birkirkara who can still return into contention if the top two slip up.

It is still too early to say what the final outcome will be, but it seems we are in for an interesting battle for the title.

The Paolites today will be facing an enthusiastic Marsaxlokk side, even if the latter were disappointed at having been eliminated by Sliema from the FA Trophy last week following a penalty shoot-out.

Marsaxlokk made a stunning comeback in the second round of the first phase to oust Msida from the sixth place and a berth in this Championship Pool.

Patrick Curmi's side hopes to win as much points as possible in the early matches in this phase so as to try and earn a berth in the Europa League next season. A third or a fourth place seems to be well within their reach.

Mark Miller's boys have certainly been inspired by the form being shown this season by top striker Terence Scerri who has been scoring goals at will.

If he can maintain such form, he will certainly be able to lead his side to more successes, even if the competition is expected to get tougher in this phase.

In the match that follows, Valletta will have no easy task in trying to beat Sliema Wanderers to maintain the pace with the Paolites. They will certainly have the advantage of knowing the result of the earlier Hibs clash.

But Paul Zammit and his boys, encouraged by the Trophy win against Birkirkara last week, are eager not just to maintain their unbeaten run, but also to take three very precious points.

Sliema seem to have no interest in the title, being a clear eight points behind the leaders at present. But it is evident that the Blues will do their best to try and finish the season third or fourth with their minds sets on an Europa League berth. In fact, if Valletta miss the title and win the Trophy, Sliema will be forced to finish as high up in the table as possible (third or fourth) to gain entry into European football next season.

Tomorrow, Birkirkara are forced to win their clash against Floriana if they are to retain any hopes of remaining in contention for the title. And this, whether Hibs and Valletta win, draw or lose today's matches.

The Stripes have gone through a bad patch recently in which results did not come their way.

John Buttigieg's outfit badly needs a victory to lift its morale, but even here, they will not have it their way as the Greens still relish hopes of making it to European football next season.

At present, the Greens are five points behind third placed Birkirkara, but they are aware that a victory tomorrow will bring them closer to their rivals.

In the Relegation Pool, the opening clash is that between the two bottom clubs, Qormi and Tarxien.

This Pool is expected to be keenly contested till the end with just four points separating top club Msida from bottom club Tarxien.

Every match will certainly be important and tomorrow's encounter is no exception.