Sliema face Neptunes on opening day

The Wilkinson Sword Winter League is set for an exciting start after fierce rivals Sliema and Neptunes were drawn to face each other on the opening day of the five-team championship, starting on Saturday March 4.

Malta champions Sirens will also be in action on the first day, against Marsaxlokk.

San Giljan, the other team in the competition, will begin their commitments against neighbours Neptunes on March 11.

The winter league will be played over two rounds, with two matches every Saturday.

Four matches are to be held on the weekend of March 25-26 after which the league stops for four weeks due to the national team's commitments in the qualifying round of the European Championships 'A' in Slovenia.

The competition will then resume on Sunday, April 23 with another two-match programme.

Clubs may use a foreign player during the winter league but this seems unlikely as until yesterday, the ASA had received no registrations of overseas players.

Opening programme: Saturday, March 4 - 3.45 p.m. Sliema vs Neptunes; 5 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Sirens.