What will happen in this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Turkey?

Malta's presence in the Eurovision Song Contest final in Istanbul on May 15 is not guaranteed this year since last year's entry did not place among the top 10 songs in Latvia.

However, all is not lost and Malta still has a chance if Saturday's winner puts on a good show during the preliminary phase, which will be held on May 12.

This comes after the European Broadcasting Union's television committee reviewed its format for the festival, which will come into force next year.

The big four group - Germany, the UK, Spain and France - are guaranteed participation, as are the 10 countries that got the best placing last year.

Just 10 countries, from the 22 competing in the preliminary phase, will make it to the final night, so Malta has to qualify among them.

These countries will be chosen through televoting. The televoting window will remain open for three days, until Saturday, May 15 at noon - the day of the final.

The only hitch is that in an attempt to add to the "sensation" the EBU will only announce the 10 winners from the preliminary phase during the actual show of the final night.

So on the day of the Eurovision final you may very well be glued to the television set to cheer Malta on and the island may not even be taking part!