The semi-finals of the competition will be played this evening at the national stadium, Ta’ Qali with first division side Mosta facing Floriana in the first semi-final at 6pm and Valletta playing against Tarxien Rainbows in the second, starting at 8pm.

City and suburban rivals Valletta and Floriana are favourites to win today’s clashes to advance to another final which should certainly be keenly contested.

Floriana seem to have the easiest task on paper as they face first division side Mosta.

However, they cannot take everything for granted, even if it seems that with Ryan Darmanin among their ranks, they have not just a talented striker, but a top class match-winner.

In fact, he is expected to be closely marked by Mosta in the hope that the lower-ranked side will be able to surprise their opponents.

In the second match, Valletta will be facing the ebullient Rainbows. Despite losing 6-2 in the last match against the citizens after two 2-2 draws earlier in the season, the Rainbows confirmed they are no push-overs on Saturday when they held Premier league leaders Birkirkara to a 3-3 draw.

It is evident that the Rainbows have nothing to lose from this clash and they will certainly be determined to advance to their first ever final in the top sphere of Maltese football.

With Brazilians Denni Rocha dos Santos and Anderson Mendes Ribeiro in top form, they can certainly provide the citizens with some anxious moments, even if they remain the underdogs.

Valletta will be a hard nut to crack, however. The citizens are expected to be at full strength as they intend winning this new competition as well, just the same as they had done when the Centenary Cup was played.

Dutrch coach Ton Caanen will have defender Kenneth Scicluna back in defence – he missed last Friday’s league clash against Qormi through suspension. But today he is available.

The Rainbows will also have to prove tough in defence where, apart from dangermen Terence Scerri and Njongo Priso, they will also have to tackle Maltese top national team striker Michael Mifsud who has already left his mark and opened his account for the citizens with a goal in his first match against Qormi last Friday.