Stand-in coach Artz eyes Green revival

Msida vs Floriana (today at 4 p.m., National Stadium).

Floriana will be aiming to revive their fortunes when they face Msida.

With just one point from three outings, Floriana have had little reason to be cheerful. Their poor results so far are reflected by the team's lowly position in the table. Floriana are also looking to appoint a new coach after Jimmy Briffa stood down in the wake of their 3-0 defeat to Hibs.

Former Msida coach Mario Petrone is said to be one of the candidates but for now, the club have entrusted the leadership of their first team to the Dutch technical director Jan Artz who will make his first appearance on the bench today.

"This is a must-win game for us," Artz said. "These are still early days but a defeat against Msida would dent our chances of making the Championship Pool. There's a great desire among the players to get back to winning ways and start a revival."

Artz is expected to field a 3-5-2 formation today and can choose his team from a full squad. Senegal defender Adam Diao is set to make his debut after replacing Andre Rocha Da Silva as the club's third foreigner.

Todor Raykov, the Msida coach, is worried about the fitness of the flu-stricken Ibrahim Babantude.

Babantude was one of Msida's best players in their 3-1 win over Valletta a fortnight ago. Raykov is urging his players to maintain the momentum against Floriana.

"Beating Valletta was a big confidence booster," Raykov said. "I hope my players continue to perform at that level week in week out as there are still many hard matches coming up.

"Floriana will be eager to make amends for their poor results but if my players show the same attitude as against Valletta, we can manage another positive result."

Hibs vs Hamrun Spartans (today at 6 p.m, National Stadium).

Hibs are favourites to chalk up their third consecutive win when they face bottom-placed Hamrun.

Robert Gatt's team look to have recovered from their opening-day upset to Sliema. They go into this match on the back of resounding wins over Pietà (4-0) and Floriana (3-0).

Defender Adrian Pulis is expected to return to the Hibs line-up today after he missed the win over Floriana with a chest infection. Youngsters Ben Camilleri and Jonathan Pearson are out of the squad through injury.

In the last days of the August transfer window, Hamrun bolstered their squad with the signing of Ivan Zammit from Marsaxlokk and Nigerian duo Maczerob Okoro and Eric Chidi who have replaced compatriots Iyiabo Iyabo and Ishaky Umoru.

Coach Michael Degiorgio is concerned about the fitness of Zammit after the former Malta midfielder picked up a groin injury in a friendly match. Rupert Mangion, Ryan Fenech and Aaron Attard are rated as doubtful.

Pietà H. vs Mosta (tomorrow at 4 p.m., National Stadium).

This clash features two teams who are still regarded as relegation candidates. However, their performances in their first outings suggest that Pietà and Mosta may defy such forecasts.

Pietà are bidding for their third win of the season as they look to increase their gap on the teams beneath them in the standings.

Coach Georgi Deanov is boosted by the return from injury of Andrew Hogg. The Pietà goalkeeper missed his team's 4-2 success over Hamrun.

Despite heavy defeats to Sliema Wanderers and Marsaxlokk in their last two outings, Mosta have displayed plenty of fighting spirit.

Ryan Deguara will miss tomorrow's match as he is abroad but coach Paul Zammit's options have been strengthened by the on-loan signings of Jonathan Caruana and Matthew Bartolo from Hibs. Dyson Falzon and Miroljub Spasic also return from suspension for Mosta.