Valletta FC may extend their lead at the top of the standings this weekend as they face bottom placed Balzan Yotuhs and Hibernians come up against Sliema Wanderers at the start of the second and final round.
But the relegation battle is still wide open and all the teams, with the exception of bottom placed Marsaxlokk are involved in a merry-go-round which keeps them more or less very much interested in the proceedings.
As already said, Valletta will be meeting Championship Pool wooden spoonists Balzan Youths this afternoon and should be able to collect another three points quite comfortably.
Last week, the citizens opened a six-point lead over Hibernians with five matches to go. If, as expected, Valletta win again today, and Hibernians fail to win tomorrow, then it will be clear that the Citizens might also be able to start celebrating another title win.
The Paolites face a somewhat difficult task as, mathematically, the Wanderers still have a chance of finishing third even though their defeat against Floriana last weekend, left them in an awkward situation.
The Blues are well aware that another defeat tomorrow will certainly end their hopes of playing European football this season, even if their chances are already remote.
In such a scenario and with the result of the Valletta-Balzan match known 24 hours earlier, then the Paolites will be more motivated in their quest to win the three points in the hope that Valletta might slip at least once before the two teams meet again in the final league match.
Also tomorrow, the Birkirkara-Floriana clash should prove to be quite interesting and keenly contested.
Birkirkara are third on 29 points and Floriana lie two points behind them. In all probability, one of these two teams will qualify for the Europa League next season via the third place in the League.
At present, Birkirkara seem to be back in their best form – they are still undefeated in the Championship Pool - but Floriana regained confidence after last week’s 3-1 win against eternal rivals Sliema.
For the two teams, it is a sort of final, and although nothing will be decided through tomorrow’s outcome, it is obvious that a victory for Birkirkara will give them a strong five-point lead with four matches to go. A victory for the Greens will put them one point above the Stripes while a draw keeps Birkirkara two points ahead of their rivals.
In the relegation battle, before the start of the second and final round, Qormi and Hamrun lead the standings on 21 points, followed by Mosta on 19, Tarxien on 18 and Mqabba on 17. Marsaxlokk prop up the table with just six points.
Qormi seem to have a good chance to redeem themselves after their defeat at the hands of Mosta in midweek.
The Yellow Blacks need a convincing win to boost their morale as the forthcoming commitments will be expected to be tough with all the other contestants also battling desperately to earn the points that matter.
On Monday evening, there will be two interesting matches at the Hibernians Stadium.
The Mqabba-Tarxien and Mosta-Hamrun clashes can be considered as veritable deciders with the winners of these matches making a bold step forward in their quest to avoid relegation.
Mqabba and Hamrun will be seeking to return to winning form after they figured in a draw the past weekend – a result which certainly did not help the cause of both.
But their opponents, Tarxien and Mosta respectively, will also be going out to show consistency and win again to enhance their chances of staying among the elite, at least for another season.