Sliema McDonald’s are expected to put the setback in their previous game behind them today and get back to winning ways by beating bottom-placed Marsascala Solid-base as another round of matches from the 2011 Winter League will be played at Tal-Qroqq.

The Blues, winners of the pre-season tournament last year, were not expected to falter against Sirens Ritter Sports, particularly after their spirited display in the derby against Neptunes Vodafone.

However, the team from St Paul’s Bay had other ideas in mind and, marshalled by Dorian Pisani from the bench, they sprang a surprise even though the 6-5 victory in the end was merited.

Marsascala played two matches so far in the Winter League and on both occasions the southerners finished at the wrong end of a heavy scoreline. Their last outing was against San Ġiljan who chalked up useful points in their bid to avoid the bottom two places thanks to a comfortable 17-3 win.

Today, the Saints will be engaged in a non-competitive match against Malta U-17 as Balluta Bay neigh-bours, Neptunes, could go tem-porarily top of the standings if they beat Exiles Jet Services in the other match in programme.

Exiles started the tournament on a right footing after beating Marsascala and last week Joe Caruana Dingli’s team stayed in tune with another sound perfor-mance against the U-17 team with Timmy Sullivan banging in seven goals in a 17-5 win.

After the first round of matches, the top four teams qualify for the semi-finals with the other two sides figuring in a play-off for fifth place.