National coach Pietro Ghedin is eyeing a second consecutive away win this evening in Serravalle, as his boys face fellow minnows San Marino in a friendly international.

It is the first time that the two countries are meeting at full international level, but the Italian coach is quite confident his side can repeat its performance in Luxembourg last June when the boys in red emerged comfortable 2-0 winners in the Grand Duchy.

Ghedin has had to make some changes to the squad he had taken to Luxembourg for today’s match, but he is to continue experimenting, even if today’s match is the final friendly before next month’s World Cup 2014 qualifiers against Armenia (at Ta’ Qali) and Italy ( in Modena).

Missing from Ghedin’s squad are goalkeepers Henry Bonello and Reuben Gauci, as well as Jonathan Caruana, Ian Azzopardi, Edward Herrera, Dyson Falzon, Cleaven Frendo and Edmond Agius. Moreover, Clayton Failla is suspended.

Making a return to the squad are Etienne Barbara who plays for Vancouver Whitecaps in the United States and Luke Dimech, who has returned from a two-year stint in Cyprus and is now on the books of local side Mosta FC.

Half of the current squad had played at one time or another during the match in Luxembourg, but I firmly believe Ghedin will now be eager to take a closer look at some of his ‘new faces’, especially Luke Dimech and Etienne Barbara.

Dimech might be roped in for Jonathan Caruana (not included because he is not 100 per cent fit) at the back while Barbara could take the place of the suspended Failla.

Otherwise I do not expect the Italian coach to make any radical changes except in the second half, when substitutions will be expected to take place.

Ghedin’s formation for today’s match is likely to be the following:

A. Hogg (J. Haber), A. Muscat, A. Agius, L. Dimech, G. Sciberras, R. Briffa, D. Bogdanovic, E. Barbara, A. Cohen, A. Schembri, M. Mifsud.

The other players forming the squad and who will possibly start as substitutes are: R. Camilleri, S. Borg, J. Mintoff, P. Fenech, R. Fenech, S. Bajada.

The match kicks off at 8.30pm.

San Marino squad

The San Marino coach Giampaolo Mazza has selected the following players to form part of his squad in view of this evening’s clash.

Simone Bacciocchi, Alessandro Bianchi, Cristian Brolli, Lorenzo Buscarini, Nicola Cavalli, Michele Cervellini, Enrico Cibelli, Alessandro Della Valle, Alex Gasperoni, Manuel Marani, Filippo Mazza, Marco Muraccini, Mirko Palazzi, Danilo Rinaldi, Aldo Simoncini, Davide Simoncini, Federico Valentini, Damiano Vannucci, Fabio Vitaioli, Matteo Vitaioli.

The match is to be controlled by Italian international referee Paolo Tagliavento.

ON TV – The match is being screened live on TVM 2 at 8.30pm