The Bank of Valletta Premier League enters the second round of matches this weekend - another programme of four matches today and the remaining three tomorrow.

This programme is the last before the first stoppage this season in view of the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers - next week's match against England at Ta' Qali and against Scotland in Glasgow four days later.

Judging from what was witnessed in the opening matches last weekend, it seems that we are in for an exciting season with most of the so-called small clubs giving a good run for their money to some of the so-called top clubs.

In the first batch of matches, Valletta had to fight harder than expected to get the better of Mosta, while Sliema were surprisingly held to a one-all draw by Premier newcomers Senglea Athletic.

Tarxien, St Andrews, Naxxar and Lija will certainly have to show improvement. In the opening matches they all lost, Tarxien faltering miserably against Hamrun, Lija losing heavily against Gzira and Naxxar beaten by Balzan. St Andrews were no match for champions Hibernians.

The match of the week this time seems to be the Hamrun S.-Hibernians clash today at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. One expects a bumper crowd to attend.

This is not only because the champions did well to annihilate St Andrews in their opener, but even more because of Hamrun's excellent performance in beating Tarxien 4-1, apart from the fact that they will be playing 'at home'.

It is pertinent to point out that in the same encounter last season - on the opening day - it was the Spartans who surprisingly emerged winners. And last weekend, their team showed considerable improvement over last season's squad with their foreign players showing impressive form.

The Paolites will have to be on full alert to keep the enthusiastic Spartans at bay, but I consider them as favourites to win the three points as they have more experience.

Floriana, Birkirkara and Sliema will be trying to taste their first win of the season after figuring in draws the past weekend.

After their draw with Birkirkara, Floriana now meet Tarxien and seem to have a pretty good chance to condemn the Rainbows to a second consecutive defeat. The latter were simply a poor lot against the Spartans.

Not the same can be said of Birkirkara who will have to show much better form if they are to beat a Gzira United side which fared so well in beating newcomers Lija 4-0 in their opener.

Sliema will be facing Naxxar Lions in the hope of registering their first win, but even here, the Lions might offer strong opposition to the Blues who were unimpressive as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Senglea.

In the other match this weekend, Mosta and Lija Athletic face each other, both having lost their opening match.

Full programme

Today

Centenary Stadium: Bank of Valletta Premier League 6.30pm St Andrews-Balzan; 8.45pm Senglea Ath.-Valletta.

Victor Tedesco Stadium: Bank of Valletta Premier League 6.30pm Floriana-Tarxien R.; 8.45pm Hamrun S.-Hibernians.

Tomorrow

Victor Tedesco Stadium: 7pm Bank of Valletta Premier League Mosta-Lija Ath.

Centenary Stadium: Bank of Valletta Premier League 6.30pm Gzira U.-Birkirkara; 8.45pm Naxxar L.-Sliema W.