The U*BET FA trophy competition – the second major honour in local football – enters the quarterfinal stages this weekend with two matches being played today and another two tomorrow.

The top clash on the card is undoubtedly today’s Hibernians-Floriana clash - a repeat of last weekend’s League clash which ended in a drab goalless draw.

Also today, prior to the Hibernians-Floriana clash, there will be the match between Pieta H. and Qormi.

In the other matches, Hamrun face first division side St George’s in tomorrow’s first match, to be followed by the all-Premier clash between Valletta and Mosta FC.

This season’s major knock-out in Maltese football took a more interesting format as all the MFA affiliated clubs, including those in Gozo, earned the right to take part – a format on the same lines as that adopted for the FA Cup in England.

The competition has now reached the quarterfinal stages, but one can safely say that surprises were not lacking. The fact that two of the Last eight hail from the First Division confirms that this format does not – as was expected – favour the top clubs who usually dominated throughout.

We have had top clubs like Sliema and Birkirkara being eliminated in the round of Last 16, but clubs like Mosta, Qormi and Hamrun are all looking forward to extend their positive rtun in the competition, eyeing a berth in next season’s Europa League.

Most of the eight survivors battling this weekend for a semifinal place are from the top division. They are Valletta, Hibernians, Floriana, the first three placed teams in the BOV Premier League, Qormi, Mosta and Hamrun Spartans, while Pieta Hotspurs and St George’s hail from the First Division.

Of the two all-Premier League clashes the Floriana – Hibernians match should be the main attraction. The two sides have inscribed their name on the solid silver trophy 27 times, with the Greens having won the honour last season for the 19th time.

It is unfortunate that the draw deemed that one of these two teams will have to make an exit at this stage, but the commitment of these giants of the local game will guarantee a high-octane duel which one augurs will be played in the best of sporting camaraderie.

In the other match between top teams Valletta, 12 times winners of this trophy, face Mosta, an outfit that cannot be taken lightly as they have proved to be the team most in form in the second round of the Premier League’s first phase.

The match will be preceded by the Hamrun-St George’s duel in which the Spartans, who have landed this honour six times, will try to put their opaque league performances behind them.

In the other match Qormi and Pieta Hotspurs clash this afternoon. The latter team, together with St. George’s, both from the first division, will sense their chances of making more inroads in the competition.

The FA Trophy commened in 1935 courtesy of the English FA’s gesture when donating the famous trophy in recognition of the massive support for England by a group of Maltese when England played Italy in 1933.