Strugglers aiming for top-six boost

Marsaxlokk and Ħamrun Spartans began the season with lofty ambitions of vying for a top-four position but, 11 matches into the 2008-09 Premier League campaign, the two former Malta champions find themselves entangled in a grim fight to land a Championship Pool berth.

Set in the context of their lowly positions in the table, their second round meeting this afternoon at the National Stadium (kick-off 3.30 p.m.) can be safely described as crucial with the outcome likely to have a huge bearing on the chances of Marsaxlokk and the Spartans of clawing their way back into the top-six zone.

The present complexion of the Premier League table suggests that only one slot in the Championship Pool is still up for grabs as the leading five teams have a significant advantage over the rest. Msida St Joseph currently occupy sixth place in the standings on 15 points, five more than Marsaxlokk and seven ahead of Ħamrun Spartans, but the latter two have a game in hand.

The first Premier League fixture of the New Year offers Marsaxlokk and Ħamrun the chance to gain ground on Msida and both are hellbent on seizing the opportunity.

"This is a crucial match for everyone at Marsaxlokk," coach Patrick Curmi said. "My first game as Marsaxlokk coach ended in defeat to Valletta but our performance was satisfactory and with a bit of luck, we could have gained a point.

"Now we have to look forward and do our best to improve results. Our principal objective is to reach the Championship Pool. It's by no means an easy task because we trail Msida by five points but we believe that a victory against Ħamrun would provide the impetus to get our challenge back on track.

"The players certainly have confidence in their collective abilities, knowing that this squad is strong enough to be in the Championship Pool. It's high time that the performances on the field of play reflect the team's potential."

Carlo Mamo, the Marsaxlokk captain, is set to miss today's match due to a persistent back problem but otherwise, Curmi has a full compliment.

Marsaxlokk are expected to increase their efforts to strengthen their squad with the signing of a Maltese striker over the next few days. However, Curmi's foremost priority is today's clash with the Spartans and the former Msida mentor is under no illusion that the match will be a stroll in the park.

"Ħamrun will be difficult opponents," Curmi remarked. "I don't think their poor start to the season provided a true reflection of their potential but it looks like the Spartans have put their early struggles behind them. Their 3-0 win over Sliema was a confidence-booster and they will surely be motivated to beat us, knowing that victory would lift them above us in the table.

"I'm expecting a very tight and balanced match."

Having assumed the reins of Marsaxlokk just days before their December 21 clash with champions Valletta, Curmi painted a rosy picture of the first few weeks of his tenure down south.

"I'm very pleased with the commitment the players have shown in training since I started my job as Marsaxlokk coach," Curmi said.

"Every member of the squad has been trying hard to raise their standards, knowing that a coaching change brings new challenges."

Ħamrun Spartans went through a coaching change much earlier than Marsaxlokk as a sequence of negative results led to a parting of ways with Marco Gerada and the appointment of Steve D'Amato.

Although the Spartans are still lurking in perilous waters in so far as their position in the standings is concerned, D'Amato has had a positive impact on the team, leading them to victories over Qormi and Sliema.

Like his Marsaxlokk counterpart, D'Amato has come to regard today's fixture as vital.

"It's a massive game for us," D'Amato told The Times. "We're going to face a team who are placed just above us in the table but Marsaxlokk's position belies their true strength. This match will be another arduous test for our team but we are approaching it in high spirits."

It's three weeks since the Spartans sprang a surprise by outclassing Sliema. Asked if the somewhat long interlude between the Sliema victory and the Marsaxlokk fixture may slow his team's momentum, D'Amato said: "I don't think the break will impact negatively on our performance. On the contrary, I prefer to look at it in a positive way as the good performance and victory against Sliema ensured a serene and professional build-up for our game against Marsaxlokk."

That the Spartans have signed on two new foreign players this week has also helped to enhance their feelgood factor. Sylvano Comvalius, a 21-year-old Dutch striker, and 30-year-old Romanian defender Florin Anton are the two latest additions to the Spartans' squad but it remains to be seen whether D'Amato puts them in the fray from the start.

"We would not have acquired two foreign players if we didn't think they could help the team," D'Amato said of the new signings.

"They have done well in training and friendly matches but competitive football is the yardstick to assess their qualities. That said, I am optimistic that they will prove useful to the team."

Veteran midfielder Rupert Mangion is ruled out by suspension today but forward Gaetan Spiteri is back in the reckoning for a first-team place after a one-match ban kept him out of the Spartans' win over Sliema.

Marsaxlokk vs Ħamrun Spartans is the only Premier League fixture this afternoon as the match between Valletta and Hibs has been rescheduled for next Wednesday due to the former's participation in a tournament in Ancona tomorrow.

First round result - Marsaxlokk vs Ħamrun 4-2.