Malta is expecting a tough match against Latvia next Saturday in a FIRA/AER Division 2A qualifier at the Hibs Ground (kick-off 2pm).

Despite the 9-6 defeat at the hands of Lithuania last week, the squad remains upbeat and is certainly well prepared to face this stiff test.

Team coach Damien Neill said yesterday he was trying to keep a 50-50 basis with regards to locally-based and foreign-based players in the squad, but whether or not they will actually play depends also on whether the injured players can make it for Saturday’s clash.

He is ready to field new faces in this home match. “There are 11 new faces compared to last year’s squad and these are Mark Davey, Andrew Dixon, Daniel Holliday, Sam Borg and Jurgen Pavanello. “Obviously it will be fantastic to win, but we are aware that it will not be easy. Let us not forget that Latvia only lost to Croatia (14-12) last week in the last two minutes of the match,” he added.

Neill said the match is very important because points are needed by both sides because of the relegation issue. “It is still early for the issue to be decided, but it is important to make sure of the points as early as possible. We are aware that the last team in the group will be automatically relegated, while the last one from bottom will have a play-off with a team from a lower division. This is why it is one of our priorities to win on Saturday,” he added.

Danny Sacco, the team manager, is optimistic. “Today we can freely say that the Malta-based players have made considerable progress. In fact, every player in the squad, including those from abroad, have to fight their way into the starting line-up. They have to earn that shirt. Last Saturday we were disappointed with the result as we played a good match and defended extremely well. We also attacked a lot and perhaps we had more than 70 per cent of the ball. But we lost and that is unfortunately what counts at the end,” he said.

He also said that Malta is at present ranked 48 in the world of rugby. “In my opinion, that is a great achievement considering that we are two places ahead of China in the ranking list,” he said.

MRFU president Martin Galea and Louis Agius, of the South End Core, appealed to the fans to gather once again behind the team and give the boys their full support.

Galea added that the lush surface of the Hibs Stadium and the carnival-like atmosphere created by the bumper crowd expected to watch the match, should make it another memorable afternoon.

He added: “The home internationals are always a showcase for our sport and the Union, and it would be impossible to stage them without continued support – not only from a raft of volunteers, but also the incredible backing of the sponsors – Farsons, Gasan Mazda and Gasan Mamo.

“I can also reveal today that we will soon be adding three new sponsors – Malta International Airport, sponsoring the women’s team, the InterContinental Hotel, providing accommodation for the team before the international matches and in the next few days, Mediterranean Bank.