Title-chasing Valletta face difficult task against Birkirkara :

The Premier League’s first decisions may be known tomorrow when the Relegation issue may be decided.

The last two matches in the Relegation Pool are being played tomorrow at the same time (kick-off 3pm), after the MFA Council ruled in favour of a motion by Tarxien Rainbows and Msida SJ on Thursday, after it deemed there was “a serious and just reason” to change the competion rules of the MFA.

Msida SJ were due to play Tarxien today but now this match has been shifted for tomorrow at the Hibernians Ground.

The four teams being separated by just two points, it is obvious that any of them might be relegated.

All the four teams will be in search of a victory tomorrow. The two teams who suffer defeat, in fact, will certainly be eliminated.

There is also the possibility that two or three teams will finish on an equal number of points. In that case, a decider will become necessary.

If three teams end up on an equal number of points, then the direct matches between the clubs involved throughout the season will be taken into account. This means that the team with the worst results will be automatically relegated and there will be a decider between the other two clubs to see who will be the second team for the Big Drop.

Msida St Joseph and Tarxien Rainbows are aware that a draw will put them on the same number of points with Hamrun, but if Hamrun win their game or draw, then Msida and Tarxien will be automatically relegated.

Qormi, who are on 17 points and leading the standings till today, can still be relegated. That will happen if either Tarxien or Msida win theirclash, and they lose their match against Hamrun. Tomorrow, the Spartans will have to produce a super human effort as they have to face Qormi without Gaetan Spiteri, Sylvano Comvalius, Steve Meilak and Mark Anthony Bonnici, all suspended.

Championship Pool

The Championship Pool has also become very interesting of late as the leaders, Hibernians, have dropped five points from their last two matches and have seen their six-point lead over Valletta shrink to just one point.

Today, in the day’s only match, the Paolites should be able to return to winning form against bottom club Floriana who have been struggling through the Championship Pool, apart from that goalless draw against Valletta.

Hibernians coach Mark Miller will once again be able to make use of Clayton Failla’s services as he is once again available after suspension, but it is still unknown whether Adrian Pulis will be back in defence after an injury.

On Monday, their challengers, Valletta, face a difficult task with third placed Birkirkara providing the opposition.

The Stripes are quite unpredictable this season, but after their 3-1 win in the first round clash, the citizens will be eager to taste sweet revenge.

Paul Zammit’s boys are aware that a draw or a defeat today will be a big setback to their hopes of maintaining their challenge to the Paolites till the very end.

They will certainly be going all out to get the three points, especially if Hibernians, as expected, win today against Floriana.

The other match from the Championship Pool is that being played tomorrow where Sliema Wanderers face Marsaxlokk.

Sliema are currently fourth on 20 points while Marsaxlokk are in fourth place on 18.