Hibernians will have to make do without two first-choice players for their top-of-the-table clash with Valletta on Sunday after goalkeeper Jurgen Borg and defender Andrei Agius were handed a one-match ban yesterday.

Borg was sanctioned after being dismissed for a penalty-box foul on Tarxien Rainbows striker Luke Montebello in the early stages of last weekend’s derby.

Despite playing for 85 minutes with 10 men, Hibs still proved too strong for their neighbours as they won 2-0.

Their second goal came from Agius who celebrated his well-taken header by climbing the perimeter wall to salute the Hibs fans but in so doing he received a caution – his fourth – that has ruled him out of Sunday’s eagerly-awaited match against Valletta who are level with the champions on 34 points.

Another Hibernians player, Brazilian playmaker Gilmar, was also given a one-match ban yesterday after seeing red in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Mosta in the third round of the FA Trophy.

Gilmar will still be available to play on Sunday though as he will be serving his suspension in the Last 16 FA Trophy clash with Pembroke Athleta.

Birkirkara’s Frank Temile and Angus Buhagiar, the Naxxar Lions captain, were suspended for one game after both saw red last weekend.

Temile will sit out Birkirkara’s match against Mosta while Buhagiar will play no part in Naxxar’s game against Tarxien Rainbows, both games being played on Saturday.

Naxxar Lions coach Clive Mizzi will have to watch his team’s clash with Tarxien, his former club, from the stands after receiving a one-match touchline ban.

Mizzi was ordered off the bench by referee Trustin Farrugia Cann in the second half of the 2-1 defeat to Floriana last Saturday.

Strugglers St Andrew’s will be without Michael Johnson for their match against Floriana on Saturday after the defender collected his fourth booking in the 4-0 defeat to Qormi last weekend.

For their part, Floriana must find a temporary replacement for their physiotherapist for their next two fixtures in the Premier League as Luke Busuttil Leaver has been handed a two-match ban after being dismissed from the dug-out in last Saturday’s tense game against Naxxar Lions.

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