The Bank of Valletta Premier League’s 14th round of matches gets under way this evening at the Victor Tedesco Stadium with two matches which involve four teams hovering at the bottom half of the table.

In the opening match, bottom placed Mosta face Balzan Youths, while in the match that follows, ‘home’ club Hamrun will be facing Tarxien Rainbows.

At present Balzan are best placed - seventh on 17 points. They are followed by Mqabba on 12, Hamrun and Marsaxlokk on 11, Tarxien 10 and Mosta seven points.

Today’s matches should prove to be keenly contested as all the four teams are eager to improve upon their present position.

Balzan, for example, by far the revelation side this season, are occupying a position which they themselves never imagined before the start of the season. In fact, with nine matches still to go before the end of the first phase, they are still well in line to contest a berth in the Top Six - two points behind sixth placed Sliema and three behind joint fourth placed Qormi and Birkirkara who have 20 points.

After their recent good performances, the Youths are now looking eagerly at today’s match against bottom side Mosta to collect a further three points to push them further up the standings.

But it will not be easy as they might imagine because Mosta seem to be putting in a bold effort to acquire as many points as possible in this second round so as to be able to maintain their challenge of avoiding relegation.

The Blues have garnered two points from draws in their last two matches and they are also looking forward now to obtain their second seasonal win, possibly this evening.

In the second match, Hamrun and Tarxien will both be battling for maximum points as they try to win this ‘six-pointer’.

It is evident that the match will be very important for both sides, but both will have to come back from successive defeats to overturn their current critical situation.

The Spartans are coming from two successive defeats while the Rainbows have gone three matches without earning a point.

For the Spartans, Kevin Sammut and Rupert Mangion are available once again after their one match ban, but Gaetan Spiteri and Lee James Agius are still ruled out through suspension.

For the Rainbows, Patrick Curmi seems to have all players available with the return of Garcia Suguino from suspension.

Today’s programme

Victor Tedesco Stadium: Bank of Valletta Premier League 6pm Mosta-Balzan Y.; 8.15pm Hamrun S.-Tarxien R.

Centenary Stadium: Bank of Valletta first division 6pm Naxxar L.-Birzebbuga SP; 8pm St George’s-St Andrews

Luxol Stadium: Bank of Valletta second division 7pm Luqa SA-Attard