Higher stakes as season enters final furlong

'These are an experienced bunch of players who can live with the pressure... but they will always be judged on how they perform on the field of play, irrespective of their reputation and experience' - Edward Aquilina (Sliema W.)

'Pietà may not be ranked among the juggernauts of Maltese football but that gives us added motivation to reward the unwavering commitment of this hard-working club with a creditable placing' - Ray Farrugia (PietÀ H.)

The use of such phrases as high stakes, do-or-die and make-or-bust is common in football reports especially during the months of April and May when the struggle for honours or salvation is at its height.

In Malta, coaches and players regularly speak of crucial matches even at a relatively early stage of the league trek, their comments fuelled by their desire to inflate the significance of a particular encounter, especially if that match happens to be a derby or a meeting against teams who represent a threat to their respective ambitions.

With the end of the season now looming large, the decisive tag attached to the remaining Premier League games is more than justified as one false step could ruin teams' hopes of attaining their pre-season objectives.

This scenario will be uppermost in the minds of coaches and players of the six teams in the Championship Pool who begin their final round of five matches this week.

Sliema Wanderers and Birkirkara, the leading duo separated by a mere two points with only 15 still to play for, face tricky matches against two resurgent sides, Pietà and Marsaxlokk, today and tomorrow.

Pietà Hotspurs' knack to rise to the occasion must be Sliema's chief cause of concern before these two teams lock horns this evening at 8 in their last head-on encounter for the season.

While Sliema have looked out of steam in their last three outings - a 3-0 loss to Hibs and a 2-2 draw against Birkirkara were followed by a laboured 1-0 success over Msida St Joseph in the FA Trophy - the vibes emerging from the Pietà clan have been very positive.

Ray Farrugia's team have collected four points from their last two Premier League encounters, backing up a creditable 1-1 draw against Birkirkara with a 4-1 rout of Floriana that rewarded them with their first victory in 14 matches.

Their long-term plans received a great tonic earlier this month when Pietà unveiled a lucrative three-year sponsorship deal with international property company HK Corporation.

Edward Aquilina, the Sliema Wanderers coach, is fully aware of the pitfalls his team's clash with Pietà might hold.

"I have always said that on their day, Pietà can offer a stern challenge to any team. They have important players missing for this match but so do we. I am expecting a very hard match against them," Aquilina told The Times.

Apart from his side's fragmented form of late, Aquilina is also overly concerned about the injuries hitting some of his most important players. Ian Ciantar's season is finished after he suffered collateral knee damage and prolific striker Michael Mifsud sustained an eye injury in the FA Trophy defeat of Msida St Joseph.

The 22-year-old Malta striker is a certainty to miss today's clash against Pietà and the next one against Floriana on Friday.

Kris Laferla and Joe Brincat also missed Sliema's last match against Msida but Aquilina is hopeful that they will be fit to face the Hotspurs today. Skipper Noel Turner has also been sidelined with a knee operation but the Malta midfielder has resumed training and could be included in the 18-man squad.

"This is the time when the mettle of the title aspirants is put to test. All elements come into play at this delicate stage of the campaign... the strength of the squad, character of players, injuries etc.," Aquilina said.

"In spite of the injury setbacks suffered by some of our most prominent players, the atmosphere in our camp is very tranquil.

"These are an experienced bunch of players who can live with the pressure because they have been in such tight situations before. Having said that, there is no disputing the fact that players will always be judged on how they perform on the field of play, irrespective of their reputation and experience."

Pietà have long slipped out of the title race but that is not to say that this club do not have their own modest aspirations. After their fifth-place finish last year, Farrugia is now gunning to lead his side to a best-ever fourth position in the Premier League hierarchy.

"In life, you always try to aim higher and that's what we are trying to do at Pietà," Farrugia told The Times. "Pietà may not be ranked among the juggernauts of Maltese football but that gives me and the players added motivation to reward the unwavering commitment of this hard-working club with a creditable placing at the end of the season.

"Our recent results have helped to restore confidence in our squad. The players seem to have surpassed that dismal patch in the second round. Their work ethic is what saw us through during that difficult time but I must say that I never lost confidence in the team's ability to grind out results, even against more-quoted sides."

Farrugia will certainly be hoping that his team's hard-to-beat tag will again come to the fore this evening when Pietà take on the favourites for the title.

His team's cause is not helped by the one-match suspension imposed on Branko Nisevic and Keith Fenech and the absence of their exciting talent Cleaven Frendo, currently turning out for the Under-19 side of Serie A club Lecce in the Bellinzona Tournament in Switzerland.

Farrugia, as is his wont, prefers to look on the bright side of things. "Any match is played between two teams of 11 players, so what's the point in ruing absences. You just have to get on with it and try to give all the players the confidence they need to show their best," Farrugia said.

Previous results - Pietà H. vs Sliema W. 3-1, 0-3, 1-2.

The other matches...

Balzan Youths vs Msida St Joseph (today at 6 p.m., National Stadium).

With Valletta now home and hosed after their 3-0 success over Hamrun Spartans gave them an unassailable lead in the Relegation Pool, Balzan Youths and Msida St Joseph are fighting for the final survival spot.

Enjoying a four-point lead over Msida, Balzan will make a significant step towards salvation if they beat their rivals but a victory for the Saints would throw the relegation issue wide open.

Jimmy Briffa, the Balzan coach, must cope without the striking prowess of Nigerian forward Anthony EviParker but the return to fitness of skipper Jaroslav Marx is a significant boost for the Youths.

Msida St Joseph ought to derive optimism from their credible display in their 1-0 defeat to Sliema Wanderers in the FA Trophy quarter-finals. Apart from the long-term absence of Karl Vella Petroni, Msida should be at full strength for today's delicate match.

Previous results - Balzan Y. vs Msida SJ 1-1, 2-1.

Floriana vs Hibernians (tomorrow at 6 p.m., National Stadium).

Hibernians' shock 3-0 reverse against Marsaxlokk gave cynics fresh ammunition with which to shoot down their title challenge after the Paolites' emphatic victory over Sliema Wanderers had provided some respite from the growing scepticism over their championship credentials.

To add insult to injury, Hibs miserably failed to lift their ailing spirits, succumbing to a 4-1 defeat to Marsaxlokk in the FA Trophy quarter-finals.

Trailing leaders Sliema by five points, Hibs quickly need to pick themselves from the floor if they are to maintain their faltering title hopes alive. Coach Robert Gatt must make do without Nigerian midfielder Essien Mbong who has been handed a one-match ban following his sending-off in the FA Trophy debacle to Marsaxlokk.

Floriana's paltry return of one point from their last five matches testifies to their failure of making some sort of impact in the league since they secured their top-six finish.

Their elimination from the FA Trophy at the hands of rivals Valletta, pending a MFA decision on the protest filed by Floriana, has added to their disappointment. The Greens' complaint over their 1-0 defeat to Valletta will be heard by the MFA Protests' Board on Thursday.

Malta U-21 striker Nicolò Baldacchino is still ruled out by injury while Joseph Craig Schembri may lose his place in the starting formation after missing some training sessions of late.

Christian Cassar was reported to be ready to make his much-awaited comeback from a cruciate injury in tomorrow's clash but his return may be put back for the following clash against Sliema Wanderers.

Previous results - Floriana vs Hibernians 1-2, 4-2, 1-3.

Marsaxlokk vs Birkirkara (tomorrow at 8 p.m., National Stadium).

Previous encounters and the late form displayed by these two sides point to an enticing match between Marsaxlokk and Birkirkara.

Birkirkara have a perfect record in head-to-head matches with Marsaxlokk this season but on each occasion these two clubs met, Marsaxlokk stretched their more-quoted opponents to the limit only to finish on the losing end of the scoreline by the odd goal.

Both sides are gunning for the three points... Birkirkara to either remain within touching distance, catch or possibly overtake Sliema Wanderers, depending on what result the champions manage against Pietà this evening, and Marsaxlokk to consolidate fourth spot in the table and strengthen their bid to finish third.

Stephen Azzopardi, the Birkirkara coach, has no other option but to tinker with his formation due to the suspensions imposed on Nigerians Haruna Doda and Precious Monye.

Michael Galea's chances of recovering his fitness in time to line up against Marsaxlokk are rated 50-50. Roderick Briffa is back on the training ground after a lengthy lay-off but is unlikely to be drafted into the squad for tomorrow's encounter.

Marsaxlokk coach Robert Kelly does not have any particular injury dilemmas but defender Justin Tellus must serve a one-match ban.

Previous results - Birkirkara vs Marsaxlokk 3-2, 1-0, 4-3.