Hibs and Birkirkara seek to keep pace with front-runners

Champions Hibernians and title-seekers Birkirkara will be looking to keep up with early pace-setters Valletta and Sliema Wanderers this evening when two Premier League matches, postponed last weekend because of waterlogged pitches, will be played at the Centenary Stadium.

In the first match, Birkirkara will have to be wary of a Pietà side eager to get back to winning ways after a barren spell.

Since that famous 1-0 win over Valletta on October 19, Ray Farrugia's team drew against Hamrun (1-1) and lost to Sliema (0-5) and Hibernians (0-1). Today, Pietà will have defensive trio Mirko Jurilj, Mauro Dilello and Digger Okonkwo back from suspension but striker Anatole Debono is doubtful.

Birkirkara struggled to beat Pietà in the first round (2-1) as coach Stephen Azzopardi is trying to instil some consistency in his players who threw away a 3-1 lead against Sliema in the previous match.

Today, Azzopardi will have to do without utility man William Camenzuli, suspended.

Ndubisi Chukunyere, back after playing for Nigeria, should provide enough spark for Hibernians, in the second match today, for the Paolites to repeat their fine first-round showing against Floriana (4-1).

Coach Robert Gatt, however, will have to wait until the last minute to announce his starting line-up after Miguel Mifsud, Adrian Pulis and Roderick Baldacchino were down with 'flu during the weekend.

Floriana coach Ziya Yildiz is likely to have a new foreign player in his squad next month but today he has to do without Georgian Grigol Gvazava, suspended. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza is still sidelined with injury but Claude Mattocks could play a part even though he is not fully fit.

Marsaxlokk... no easy proposition

Tomorrow, Sliema will be bidding to return to the top of the standings but have a difficult hurdle to clear... in-form Marsaxlokk. The southern outfit of J.J. Aquilina are on a high after three wins from their last four matches saw them climbing up to the sixth position.

Sliema, whose remarkable rally against Birkirkara earned them a deserved point in a thrilling 3-3 draw, just managed to beat Marsaxlokk (1-0) in the first round. The Blues have Massimo Grima banned.

Hamrun elected a new committee last weekend with Edgar Bonnici Cachia confirmed as the new president to succeed Victor Tedesco.

Tomorrow, the Spartans face Mosta in a decisive match with vital points at stake as both teams seek to avoid playing in the Relegation Pool in two months' time.

Programme

Today - 6 p.m. Pieta vs Bir-kirkara; 8 p.m. Floriana vs Hibs.

Tomorrow - 6 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Sliema; 8 p.m. Mosta vs Hamrun.

Matches at Centenary Stadium.