The second round of the BOV Premier League starts this weekend with five more matches to be played between today and net Monday.

This afternoon’s first match at the Hibs Stadium between Marsaxlokk and Tarxien Rainbows kicks off at 2pm. Both teams are going through a fine patch after a shaky start and the match between them promises to be another evenly balanced one just like the goalless draw in the first round. Both had their progress halted as they dropped points in their last outings. Tarxien were held to a goalless draw by Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk succumbed to their second league defeat against Qormi, thus losing further ground on the leaders.

Although seven points adrift of leaders Valletta, Tarxien are in second place. Marsaxlokk are one point behind them but a win can take them above their opponents and lift them up the standings.

Today’s second match is between two teams going through contrasting fortunes. Hibernians disappointingly lie in ninth place, with their only league win so far registered on the first day, exactly against Floriana. In the first round, the Paolites beat the Greens handsomely 3-1 with a polished performance. Since then, Hibernians have slumped to a winless streak and a barren run of poor form, failing to score in their last four league matches.

By contrast, Floriana have recovered well from that defeat, winning four and drawing two of the eight matches that followed. They lie in second place, on equal points with Tarxien.

Buoyed by a goalless draw in the derby against leaders Valletta in their last match, Floriana look poised to add to their point-tally, to secure a top-six berth come the end of the second round.

Time is running out for Hibernians as they try to turn the tide. There are doubts about the fitness of some of their regular players for today’s match though.

Tomorrow’s second match between Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers at Ta’Qali’s National Stadium (kick off 4pm) could well be the weekend’s most intriguing contest. Both teams have been far from scintillating form, especially the Wanderers, who can boast of only two wins (against Hamrun Spartans and Vittoriosa Stars).The Wanderers have failed to win in five matches since mid-October and the pressure is piling up on coach Mark Marlow to help his team improve in the second round. Sliema’s blunt attacking edge have seen them score only six goals in nine league matches and need reinforcements fast. Birkirkara won 4-1 in the first round with two goals from Michael Galea, Terence Vella and Emiliano Lattes.

The latter is perhaps presently the most in-form player for the champions, who are still struggling to produce their best form, with long-term injuries to several key players taking their toll.

Qormi hope to take some revenge from their first round 3-1 defeat against Hamrun Spartans in tomorrow’s other match, especially because the Spartans will be forced to field a depleted defence, bereft of their two suspended centre backs Martin Hrubsa and Roderick Fenech.

Qormi are separated by only two points from Hamrun and their recent performances have indicated that they are on the up as Stephen Azzopardi’s squad is slowly but surely gelling into a team. The still injured Bello-Osagie will in all probability miss again tomorrow’s match.

Valletta and Vittoriosa Stars play on Monday at Victor Tedesco Stadium (kick off 7.30pm) in the match between the top and bottom teams. The gap between the two is evident and Valletta, who will have both Jamie Pace and Ramon Dos Santos back, but Dyson Falzon suspended, are clear favourites to win hands down and preserve their unbeaten run.

Vittoriosa’s rearguard will have to be at their best to avoid an embarrassing defeat.

It would be no surprise if by the end of this weekend, Valletta will extend further their lead at the top.