Valletta should be crowned Malta champions tomorrow afternoon when they meet Marsaxlokk.

With four rounds still to be played (12 points in all) they are enjoying a 12-point lead over their nearest rivals Floriana and Birkirkara, and therefore they need just one point from tomorrow’s encounter to be mathematically sure of winning the title.

Not that there has been any doubt as to where the title was going this season. In fact, since the early days of the second round of the first phase, Valletta have continued extending their lead at the top.

The citizens have dominated this year’s championship showing what a great difference there is between a team playing under a professional setup and the others – who are still more or less on a semi-professional basis.

With Valletta acquiring the services of the most talented players on the island, they were simply in a class of their own this season and they had no real challengers.

However, tomorrow, against Marsaxlokk, they will have to be on the alert as they will be facing one of the three sides still highly interested in the proceedings. In fact, together with Floriana and Birkirkara, the southern seasiders are still involved in the battle for the runner-up placing which means a berth in next season’s Europa League.

And the fact that Marsaxlokk have no other means of getting into Europe - they have been eliminated from the FA Trophy – will certainly see them more motivated than their last match against the citizens, where they almost pulled off a surprise last gasp win, the post denying them what would have been a hugely unexpected victory.

Also on the programme are four other matches.

In the Championship Pool, today there will be the Floriana-Tarxien clash while tomorrow Birkirkara face Hamrun Spartans.

In the Relegation Pool, another issue which has now been settled, first placed Sliema Wanderers face the relegated Vittoriosa Stars, while on Monday evening, Qormi will be facing Hibernians.

For these four clubs it will be their last match this season having also been eliminated from the FA Trophy.

Floriana and Birkirkara both seem to have a good chance of making progress in the battle for the runner-up place. Against Tarxien and Hamrun respectively, they are both considered favourites to bag all the points, and with Marsaxlokk facing a difficult clash against Valletta, it is possible that they might extend their current one-point lead over Patrick Curmi’s side.

However, it will not be all over, as both Floriana and Birkirkara still have to face Valletta with three rounds still remaining to be played after this weekend.

Birkirkara’s match against the Spartans seem to be the easiest on paper as Hamrun are almost definitely out of contention, but Tarxien could still become a contender for the runner-up placing if they beat Floriana today and the Stripes and Marsaxlokk drop some points.

At present the Rainbows are lingering in fifth place, six points behind Floriana and Birkirkara and five behind Marsaxlokk.