Four spots up for grabs as top names enter the frame

Valletta and Floriana will put their quest for a spot in the Premier League Championship Pool to the side this weekend as they divert their focus to the FA Trophy. Both teams will be highly optimistic of booking their place in the second round of the KO competition as they tackle Division One opposition.

This afternoon, Floriana take on Mosta in a clash that will evoke memories of the epic ties between these two clubs in last season's Premier League campaign.

Their four league meetings in 2005/06 served up a total of 18 goals with Floriana and Mosta winning a game apiece and the other two finishing in a draw.

Their last match will probably never be forgotten by those involved in it as well as the fans who were at the National Stadium.

Pitted against each in a do-or-die relegation showdown on the last weekend of the championship, Floriana were staring defeat and demotion to Division One in the face after falling three goals behind in the first half.

It was not to be as the Greens staged a spirited comeback in the second half to level the score and gain the point they needed to retain their Premier League status.

Condemned to Division One after their 3-3 draw with Floriana, Mosta have yet to justify their ambition to win promotion back to the top flight. The Blues, this season under coach Vince Carbonaro, are third from bottom with six points from five matches.

The Greens have more strength-in-depth than Mosta but the tough ride Division One teams gave Marsa and Pietà Hotspurs, of the Premier League, last weekend should serve as an eye-opener for Floriana. Furthermore, the Greens will be looking to return to winning ways after being held to a goalless draw by St George's in their last league outing.

Coach Joe Grech will be without goalkeeper Simon Agius who suffered a wrist injury while training for the national squad.

As today's game is being played on the much-derided artificial turf pitch of the Centenary Stadium, Grech is also expected to leave Christian Cassar out of the starting formation as a precautionary measure.

Last season, Floriana made it all the way to the final of the FA Trophy, where they lost 1-0 to Hibernians, but Mosta suffered a surprising 3-1 defeat to St Patrick in the first round.

Valletta, buoyed by two consecutive league wins, take on Division One strugglers San Gwann tomorrow.

Paul Zammit cannot bank on a full squad as Jonathan Bondin is unavailable and Steve Bezzina sustained an injury during training with the Malta U-21 squad this week.

On the plus side, Dyson Falzon and Renie Forace are gunning for a return to City's first team after recovering full fitness.

Last season, Valletta entered the KO fray at the quarter-final stage after a top-four finish in the 2004-2005 league. Their sojourn in the FA Trophy was brief though as they lost to Birkirkara 2-0 after extra-time.

For their part, San Gwann, now under the guidance of player-coach Danilo Doncic, the former Valletta and Sliema striker, have pleasant memories of their participation in the FA Trophy last year.

After beating Pietà 2-0 in the first round, the Saints gave Msida St Joseph a fright before bowing out 2-1 after extra-time.

In-form Msida are favourites to progress to the next round when they meet Division One mid-table side Naxxar Lions tomorrow.

In midweek, Msida played a friendly against Malta U-17, winning 1-0.

Coach Patrick Curmi has a full squad at his disposal but is likely to rest some players ahead of the important league clash with Sliema Wanderers on November 25.

Msida lost 2-0 to Floriana in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy last season while Naxxar suffered a first-round exit at the hands of Senglea after penalties.

This weekend's FA Trophy programme kicks off with the match between St George's, last season's Division One champions, and Mqabba, the leaders in the second tier of Maltese football.

St George's go into the match in high spirits after their goalless draw with Floriana whereas Mqabba missed a chance to increase their advantage at the top of Division One after a 1-1 draw with Qormi in their last league match.

Both teams failed to march beyond the first round of the KO competition last season, St George's losing 2-1 to Hamrun Spartans and Mqabba going down 3-0 to Msida.