Birkirkara -Hibs clash heralds start of crunch time

Make-or-break, do-or-die, win-or-bust and so on... now that the first, drawn-out, phase of the Premier League is behind us, we can really start to talk about crunch time, writes Kevin Azzopardi.

Teams at both ends of the Premier League standings are very much aware that any loss of points at this stage of the campaign ought to undermine their aspirations.

Champions Hibernians and Bir-kirkara are the first two heavyweights to lock horns in the first round of matches from the Championship Pool.

For those of you not familiar with the format of our Premier League, the top six teams at the end of the first two rounds make up the Championship Pool with the other four consigned to the Relegation Pool.

Each team starts the second phase with half the points gathered in the previous rounds.

Leaders Sliema Wanderers should consolidate their lead at the top when they take on Marsaxlokk who clinched the remaining sixth spot in the Championship Pool.

Valletta, still in the running for honours, square up to Pietà Hotspurs tomorrow in another interesting fixture. The only match from the Relegation Pool features Floriana and Hamrun Spartans.

All of this weekend's four matches are important but the highlight of Premier League action is the Hibernians vs Birkirkara clash today at 4 p.m.

These two rivals have already been involved in two entertaining encounters in previous rounds... Hibernians won the first-round match 3-0 but Birkirkara exacted revenge when inflicting a 3-1 defeat on the Paolites in the second round.

Seven points adrift of leaders Sliema, Hibs' chances of retaining the league crown would all but vanish should they forfeit any points today.

Birkirkara's position is better as they lie second, only two points behind Sliema but their recent defeat to the leaders have added the pressure on them, especially after their transfer coups of late - Luke Dimech and Rufin Oba.

Although Birkirkara have assembled one of the strongest squads in the competition, injuries have sidetracked some of their most prominent players since the start of the season.

"We do have a valid squad but injuries have not helped our cause this season," Birkirkara coach Stephen Azzopardi said.

Justin Haber, the Malta U-21 goalkeeper, will undergo a late fitness test after the injury he suffered in Malta's 3-0 defeat to Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Antoine Zahra, Michael Spiteri and Lino Galea are still far from full fitness.

"We have to take it game by game. Every match is difficult from here onwards and the expectations are very high. If we are to maintain our title challenge, we cannot afford to drop points, especially in view of the fact that Birkirkara's first two Championship Pool matches are direct encounters.

"The defeat to Sliema has not disrupted the atmosphere in our squad. Although that loss have augmented the pressure on us, I still believe that the team's performances and league position so far have exceeded expectations," Azzopardi said.

Robert Gatt, the Hibernians coach, is expected to have a full complement at his disposal. The main question mark hangs over the availability of Nigerian Ndubisi Chukunyere.

He travelled to Cyprus on Wednesday to meet up with Russian club FC Shinnik who are interested in his services. According to Gatt, Chukunyere had agreed with Hibs that he would return in time for this afternoon's match. Gatt reckons that Hibs have still got a chance of challenging for the title if they play to the maximum of their capabilities.

"The team has to achieve the highest level of performance to strengthen our chances," Gatt told The Times.

The former Malta U-21 coach believes that there is no big difference between Hibs and Birkirkara.

"The level is practically the same. This is a game where the result can go either way," Gatt said.

Cesar Paiber and Miguel Mifsud return from suspension for Hibs.

Sliema vs Marsaxlokk (today at 2 p.m., National Stadium).

Leaders Sliema should extend their positive sequence when they take on Marsaxlokk in their first Championship Pool match... weather permitting!

In their awaited clash with title rivals Birkirkara some 10 days ago, the Wanderers yet again served up proof of their potential to win the elusive league title with a disciplined performance.

Edward Aquilina will certainly ask his men to keep that momentum going against Marsaxlokk in the hope of increasing their gap on the other contenders who will all be involved in tricky encounters.

Sliema, who last won the league in 1996, will have been delighted to see their legion of national team players emerging unscathed from a 2-2 draw with Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

Marsaxlokk's mission of retaining their Premier League status has been accomplished three months in advance. Although they are not ranked among the contenders for the honours, they will relish the opportunity to spring a few upsets.

Marsaxlokk harbour ambitions of challenging the traditional order of Maltese football in a few years' time and their non-stop involvement in the transfer market adds weight to such suggestions. A good result against Sliema would certainly go a long way towards showing that the southern team's contribution for this season has all but ended.

Roger Walker, formerly of Sliema, sustained an injury in Marsaxlokk's 4-2 victory over Msida St Joseph in the FA Trophy and is out of today's match.

Previous results - Sliema vs Marsaxlokk 1-0, 3-0.

Floriana vs Hamrun Spartans (tomorrow at 1.30 p.m., Hibernians Ground).

After missing out on the Championship Pool, Floriana and Hamrun Spartans have had something to smile about in recent weeks.

The Greens progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy with a 5-0 annihilation of Division One side Naxxar Lions whereas the Reds ended their first phase commitments with a fine 3-1 win over Marsaxlokk which will be mostly remembered for the feat achieved by Stefan Sultana.

According to Malta FA records, the veteran Hamrun striker's two goals against Marsaxlokk took his overall tally to 174, the best ever in our league competition.

Atanas Marinov and Ziya Yildiz, coaches at Hamrun and Floriana respectively, can bank on a full squad for this Relegation Pool match.

Previous results - Floriana vs Hamrun Spartans 0-1, 0-2.

City appeal on Zammit ban turned down

Valletta vs Pietà Hotspurs (tomorrow at 3.30 p.m., Hibernians Ground).

Valletta have had their ups and downs in the last few weeks. Their 2-1 victory over Floriana gave them immense joy but the long-term injury to Gilbert Agius, the six-month suspension imposed on midfielder Ivan Zammit and the departure of lethal striker Daniel Bogdanovic have seriously undermined their resources.

The Citizens' hopes of overturning Zammit's hefty ban were dashed on Thursday when their appeal was declared null by the Malta FA.

A MFA spokesman said that Valletta's appeal was not formulated according to the association's guidelines.

Dennis Fenech's team tomorrow take on Pietà Hotspurs knowing that only a victory would keep them in contention for the title. On paper, Valletta, who trail leaders Sliema by three points, are favourites to win but the Hotspurs have shown time and again that they cannot be discounted.

David Carabott is also out of the equation for this match after he was handed a one-match suspension.

Though Pietà's ambition was to secure a top-six finish, Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia, the Hotspurs coach, is not the type who likes to rest on his laurels.

He will certainly urge his players to give it their best shot in the Championship Pool in his attempt to enhance Pietà's reputation.

Gareth Sciberras is back in the frame for the Hotspurs after missing the 1-0 upset to Hibs due to suspension. Pierre Aquilina, who was also banned for the Hibs match, Digger Okonkwo and Malcolm Licari are doubtful.

Previous results - Valletta vs Pietà Hotspurs 0-1, 3-0.