Bookmakers see Malta in final

International bookmakers are predicting that Malta will make it to the final round of the Eurovision Song Contest.

The Big Poll on the contest's official website, www.esctoday.com, predicts that the Maltese duo will place seventh of the 22 countries taking part in the preliminary round on May 12, when 10 countries will be chosen for participation on the big night, May 15.

The site points out that this is a prediction poll, which means people had to predict the ranking of the participating songs and not vote for their favourites.

Meanwhile, British bookmakers William Hill have so far placed Julie and Ludwig's song On Again... Off Again in eighth place, offering punters odds of 14:1, and placing Belgium in first place with odds of 6:1.

Another bookmaker, bet365, places Malta as joint third favourite, with Denmark and Macedonia, with odds of 8:1.

If these predictions prove correct, the Maltese duo will go on to represent their country in the final being held on May 15 at the Abdi Ipecki venue in the south east of Istanbul.

The CD of the song, composed by Philip Vella and penned by Gerard James Borg, is being launched by Maltasong on Thursday afternoon at Exotique.

It includes a dance re-mix as well as a completely new song called Intensity.