Greens, Stripes in top-six clash

Floriana vs Birkirkara (today at 4 p.m., National Stadium).

This fixture has taken on added significance for both Floriana and Birkirkara. For the Greens, anything less than a win would all but end their fading hopes of gaining a place in the Championship Pool, a target Birkirkara would get closer to achieving with a victory.

Floriana's failure to glean maximum points from their match with Msida St Joseph (1-1) left them four points behind fifth-placed Birkir-kara who were back to winning ways when beating Marsa 3-0 on Saturday.

Stephen Azzopardi and Joe Grech, the coaches of Birkirkara and Floriana, have serious selection dilemmas to contend with.

Birkirkara's injury crisis continues as a host of first-teamers are unfit to play today.

William Camenzuli (calf) and Lino Galea (hamstring) have joined Argentine-born midfielder Dario Larrosa and former club captain Antoine Zahra on the casualty list.

Three other players, defender Kenneth Scicluna, Jonathan Holland and Etienne Barbara are struggling with injuries and will undergo late fitness tests.

Barbara hopes to recover swiftly from a foot inflammation as tomorrow he will be flying out to Croatia to join NK Rijeka for a trial.

Already hindered by the injuries of foreign players Wendell Gomes and Riad-Mynel Gango-Rtsa, Grech received more distressing news in midweek when skipper Ian Azzo-pardi and midfielder Manolito Micallef were handed a one-match suspension.

Grech is keeping his fingers crossed that Julian Briffa and Mauro Brincat will recover from a bout of 'flu.

The only good news for Grech is the acquisition of a new Serbian striker. Signed on until the end of the season, Bojan Spasojevic is eligible to make his debut today after his registration documents were lodged at the MFA offices on Thursday.

First round result - Birkirkara vs Floriana 1-1.

Marsa vs Pietà Hotspurs (tomorrow at 1 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Relegation strugglers Marsa and Pietà Hotspurs are expected to go all out to win and boost their hopes of avoiding the slide to Division One.

On current form, Pietà seem to enjoy a slight edge over Marsa after beating Hibs 1-0 and drawing 2-2 with Sliema Wanderers in their last two outings. Not so for Marsa who have leaked five goals in going down to Floriana (2-0) and Birkirkara (3-0) in their last two matches.

Marsa's prospects of reducing the deficit on fellows-in-distress Pietà and St George's have not been abetted by the club's decision to release their three foreigners but it looks like a chink of light has appeared for coach Edmund Lufi and his charges.

Bulgarian defender Emil Yantchev is widely expected to rejoin the Red/Blues after his move to Birkirkara was blocked by the MFA council on technical grounds.

Lufi is hopeful that Yantchev will declare himself ready to play for Marsa against Pietà.

Forward Gilbert Martin is also set to return after recovering from a hamstring injury but Diego Cucciardi cannot extend his run in Marsa's first team as he is suspended.

Carmel Busuttil, the Pietà coach, will again rely on his assistant Clive Mizzi to give out instructions to the players during the game. The former Malta skipper must serve the second of a two-match touchline ban.

Edward Herrera, Pietà's fast improving defender, is ruled out by a one-match suspension but otherwise, all the other players are available for selection.

First round result - Pietà vs Marsa 1-1.

St George's vs Msida SJ (tomorrow at 3 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Their second position in the standings now under serious threat, Msida will be seeking to boost their chances of keeping hold of their current status when they meet St George's.

Despite the hefty gap between the two teams, Msida are wary of the challenge St George's might pose. The fact that this match is being played at the Tedesco Stadium is an added concern for Msida who dropped four points in three matches they have played at this venue.

Patrick Curmi, the Msida coach, is looking forward to having a full squad at his disposal for this match.

After missing the 1-1 draw with Floriana due to injury, Ibrahim Babatunde is expected to return for Msida.

The same applies to Ousseni Zongo who came on as a second-half substitute last weekend.

Msida could only have been buoyed by the news that Josef Mifsud has been called to the national squad.

Mifsud's solid form at the back has certainly contributed to Msida's positive march, in the process prompting national coach Dusan Fitzel to invite the former Malta U-21 defender to join his squad for training for a trial period.

A repeat of the gallant performance in the 1-1 draw with leaders Marsaxlokk is what St George's coach Marco Gerada will ask from his players.

The scoring debut of Alfred Effiong is also a tonic for St George's who are still struggling with injuries to Edoardo Do Nascimento, Anthony Bonello and Kurt Formosa. Emanuel Sevasta returns from suspension.

First round result - Msida vs St George's 2-0.