Rivals look to close the gap on runaway leaders Sliema

Local stadium-goers are in for a treat of football this afternoon at Ta' Qali as champions Hibernians will attempt to stop the march of runaway leaders Sliema Wanderers while runners-up Birkirkara face third-placed Valletta in another crunch match.

Buoyed by their midweek 2-1 win over Valletta, Sliema will be looking to consolidate their lead at the top of the Premiership when they face the only team to blemish their unbeaten record so far.

The Paolites are the only side to beat the Wanderers this season - twice. In summer's Lowenbrau Cup, the Blues were beaten 3-2 by Hibs while in the corresponding first round fixture, the Paolites again finished on top with a 2-0 win.

"True, we have build a comfortable lead but I still rate this match as a very delicate one for us," Sliema coach Edward Aquilina told The Times yesterday.

"Hibernians have always been difficult opponents and not for us only. A good look at statistics will tell you that we have failed to beat them in the last five matches. Without doubt, they will be eager to extend that fine run on Saturday (today).

"Hibs are the champions after all and that says a lot about the quality in their squad. This match will be another stern test for us. However, I am confident because we are playing good football at the moment and our midweek win over Valletta confirmed the fine form the team is passing through... hopefully we will continue to build on that."

Aquilina will probably make only one change from the team that beat Valletta. Midfielder Joe Brincat is out with hamstring trouble and Orosco Anonam is expected to be drafted in a three-pronged attack along with Yugoslav duo Nenad Veselji and Danilo Doncic.

The Wanderers should not expect any favours from Hibernians who on Tuesday returned to winning ways with a hard-earned 3-2 win over Hamrun. Coach Robert Gatt urged his players to stay focused and show more consistency.

"Our position is very clear at the moment. We have to win at all costs against Sliema to stay in contention. Those three points against Hamrun were vital for us. Definitely, we cannot afford any more slip-ups," Gatt said.

"This season we gave away too many points cheaply but against Sliema we cannot afford to commit mistakes. They have established themselves as the best team so far and we must play to our limit if we are to beat them and get back in the reckoning."

The Paolites yesterday signed Edmond Lufi for the rest of the season. The former Naxxar Lions player/coach is ineligible to make his Hibs debut against Sliema, though, as his 'non-amateur' registration was not filed at the MFA 48-hours prior of today's clash.

Willie Spiteri is the only absentee in the Hibs squad as he is still recovering from ankle injury.

A clash between Valletta and Birkirkara has always produced great interest in the local football scene these past few years.

Tomorrow's match is expected to be another top-drawer fixture as both sides will be after the points not to lose further ground with the leaders.

During the week, Valletta and Birkirkara experienced different fortunes. The Citizens slumped to a second defeat in their last three matches against Sliema while the Stripes chalked up their eighth positive result on the trot with a 2-0 win over Mosta.

Valletta coach Dennis Fenech will have Bulgarian midfielder Milen Penchev and Trevor Thomas back at his disposal. The latter's four-match ban is now over while Penchev is back from a trial with Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta.

However, City are still without the injured Gilbert Agius while Kris Laferla, who has asked to move on, will not be in Fenech's squad.

The City coach said it was time for his players to show their true character to stave off the recent slump the team has slipped into.

"The situation is clear for us... we must beat our direct rivals - there's no other way to go. We know that it is going to be difficult against Birkirkara but I firmly believe that my team has enough quality to turn our season around. If we show the same kind of resilience against Sliema in the second half then we have a good chance of offering a better challenge," Fenech said.

His counterpart at Birkirkara, Stephen Azzopardi, thinks it is still early days before making any judgment on who the title favourites are.

However, he conceded that Birkirkara cannot miss from winning all three points today to maintain the title aspirations.

"I am particularly pleased with the consistent form the team has shown lately. However, in tough matches like the ones against Valletta our title credentials are put to test.

"These are the kind of matches our supporters would like to see us win and hopefully we will give our faithful something to cheer about," he said.

Jaroslav Marx's five-star performance against Mosta seems to have forced the Stripes' officials to make a U-turn in their decision not to renew the Czech midfielder's contract.

Sources close to the club yesterday said that the Stripes are expected to retain the Czech midfielder until the end of the season.

Yugoslav striker Bojan Arsic and Ghana midfielder Adamu Morso Tigana, who is expected to arrive in Malta over the weekend, are in the running to replace Nigerian Sunday Eboh, hit by a long-term injury.

Matthew Calascione is certain to miss out after pulling a hamstring against Mosta while Azzopardi is expected to make a late decision on the fitness of Michael Galea, Lino Galea and Roderick Briffa. Clint Micallef is back in the squad after regaining full fitness.

First round results: Hibernians beat Sliema 2-0; Valletta beat Birkirkara 3-1.