No shocks expected as top teams face weaker opponents

This week's round of the 7-Up League preliminary phase matches is not expected to deliver any shocks as the four teams tipped for the Division One championship, when the split is effected next month, are favourites to chalk up their fourth successive victories.

Neptunes, Sliema, Sirens and Marsascala have won their first three matches so far... the chances of Otters, San Giljan, Valletta and Exiles respectively, of upsetting the big guns' applecarts between today and tomorrow look very remote.

The most contested match of the round should be the clash between Ta' Xbiex and Marsaxlokk tomorrow at 6 p.m.

With the points' tallies from this preliminary round carried forward to the next phase of the championship, these two teams will be after a win and the two points which could prove to be more than useful when the true competition gets underway next month.

Ta' Xbiex, under the shrewd guidance of Peter Paolella, gave Marsascala a hard time last week before the southerners won the match 8-5.

Marsaxlokk, on their part, struggled to impose their superiority on lowly Otters after a good start.

Meanwhile, some interesting youngsters from the junior strings of the top teams are getting ample time to play and prove their worth as witnessed last week.

Both Sliema and Neptunes had some regulars missing but the Blues had Clint Debono marking his return from injury with a strong showing and five goals past a hapless Valletta side.

The Reds relied on the scoring prowess of Niki Lanzon to stave off the bold challenge of Exiles. The latter, along with Ta' Xbiex and San Giljan, have lately shown some remarkable improvement in their play.

Certainly, a positive aspect which will hopefully increase the entertainment value of the encounters while reducing the possibility of high-scoring victories for the top clubs.

Today: 6 p.m. Otters vs Neptunes; 7 p.m. Sirens vs Valletta.

Tomorrow: 5 p.m. Sliema vs San Giljan; 6 p.m. Ta' Xbiex vs Marsaxlokk; 7 p.m. Exiles vs Marsascala.