Four teams bid to join Valletta, Spartans in semi-finals

Cup ties are must-win games, moreso for teams like Hibernians whose hopes of booking a place in the Europa League next season rest on success in the FA Trophy.

Languishing in sixth place, seven points behind third-placed Qormi and Sliema Wanderers, Hibs' chances of qualifying for a European competition via the league look remote.

This evening, Hibs will be looking to join Ħamrun Spartans, 5-2 winners over Sliema on Saturday, and Valletta, who knocked out Birkirkara, in the semi-finals of the U*Bet FA Trophy. Yet, their task looks anything but easy as they will face Qormi (kick-off 8 p.m.) whose excellent run in the league has increased their desire to win their first major honour.

Jesmond Zerafa's team have been one of the revelations of the season and their 4-0 trimming of Sliema Wanderers in their last league outing has boosted the club's chances of playing in the Europa League this summer.

Not so can be said of Hibs whose coach Mark Miller is under increasing pressure to stop the rot after four successive league defeats all but ended his team's hopes of climbing into a top-three position.

Despite his side's poor form of late, Miller has vowed to fight on and is backing his players to make a bold reaction.

"This has been a very difficult season for us," Miller told The Times.

"The team has struggled for consistency and our results overall have been very disappointing. This year we also had to contend with several injuries to a number of key players and this has clearly hampered our bid.

"However, I have no intention of standing here lamenting our misfortune. We have a cup quarter-final coming up and we are determined to give it our best shot. We want to try and make it to the semi-finals and keep alive our hopes of playing in Europe.

"Certainly, it won't be easy, because Qormi seem to have rediscovered their best form but I'm confident my players will produce a strong response following our recent upsets."

Miller is sweating on the fitness of several first-team players with Andrew Cohen and Jonathan Caruana rated as doubtful with foot injuries.

On a more positive note, Uruguayan midfielder Christian Callejas is set to be restored to the starting formation after missing the 2-0 defeat to Tarxien Rainbows through suspension.

If some of his regular players are declared unfit for today's match, Miller will not hesitate to rope in more youngsters as he has done time and again this season.

"One positive thing that has come out of this season is that, when our senior players were missing, we were in a position to turn to some very talented youngsters," the former Malta U-21 coach said.

"We have the likes of Tristan Caruana, Yan Cauchi and Jean Paul Farrugia who look well-prepared to step into the first team. They represent the future of our club.

"My main objective now is to start preparing a strong team for next season and the players coming through the nursery will be an essential cog in our planning for next season."

While Hibs are a team in transition, Qormi are looking to establish themselves as one of the top sides in the top flight this season. Last week's convincing victory over Sliema proved that Qormi are determined to finish the season on a high.

"This is a very important match for us,"Qormi coach Zerafa remarked.

"Our main target in this second part of the season is to qualify for a European competition and victory against Hibs would take us just one match away from reaching the final.

"After some inconsistent performances of late, the team seems to have regained its best form and we are all geared up for the quarter-final against Hibs.

"This is a massive match for our opponents as they are eyeing success in this competition to save their season. But we are determined to go far in the FA Trophy and I'm confident that our players will rise to the occasion."

Midfielder Stefan Giglio is unlikely to play a part in today's match as he is struggling with injury but otherwise, Zerafa has a full squad at his disposal.

Qormi and Hibs have already met three times in the league this season with the former winning the first game 3-1, the second match ended 2-2 and the Paolites won the third encounter 1-0.

Tarxien vs Balzan

In today's first quarter-final at the National Stadium, kicking off at 6 p.m., Tarxien Rainbows will be bidding to reach their second semi-final in a cup competition this season when they face Division One side Balzan Youths.

The Rainbows, who lost 3-1 to Valletta after extra-time in the semi-finals of the National League 100 Anniversary Cup last month, come into the match in high spirits following their 2-0 derby win over Hibernians.

Right-back Steve Sadowski is suspended for Tarxien but otherwise coach Noel Coleiro has no selection problems.

Balzan, the only team from outside the Premier League still in the FA Trophy, will be looking to extend their fairytale run in the cup after they ousted Msida St Joseph (5-0) and Dingli Swallows (2-1) in the previous rounds.