Sliema set to stay on winning trail

Mqabba vs Sliema Wanderers (today at 4 p.m., National Stadium).

Buoyed by their 2-1 win over Hibs, Sliema Wanderers should find little difficulty to brush aside the challenge of bottom-placed Mqabba.

The Wanderers, now level with Floriana and Birkirkara at the top on 10 points, produced their best performance of the season against the Paolites and a repeat of that showing should suffice to give them their second successive win.

Coach Ray Farrugia is expected to be without Ivan Woods who picked up a knock on his right foot against Hibs. Goalkeeper Murphy Akanji is also doubtful due to a knee problem.

The past few weeks have been quite frustrating for Mqabba coach Joey Falzon who is still at a loss as to how his team have failed to open their Premier League account despite their spirited performances.

Against the Wanderers, Falzon is expected to field his strongest formation as Mqabba, who lost 3-1 to Valletta on Wednesday, look to surprise their more-quoted opponents.

Cilia dropped from Floriana squad

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

Floriana will be looking to make amends for their loss to Marsaxlokk, their first of the season, when they take on the resurgent Pietà Hotspurs in tomorrow's opening match.

Coach Danilo Doncic is known to have been very disappointed with the below-par performances of some key Floriana players in their 3-2 loss to Marsaxlokk.

The young Serbian coach is widely expected to change his starting formation as he looks to put his team back on the winning track.

Trevor Cilia is the first player to pay the price for Floriana's failure to win their last two matches.

The former Malta U-21 winger has been dropped from the senior squad after his level of performance and commitment so far this season have failed to live up to Doncic's expectations. Cilia has reportedly been told by Doncic that he will only be considered for selection to the senior team if and when he raises his standard to the level expected of him.

Defender Mario Caruana is out with a groin injury while English midfielder Yola Bolasie, a second-half substitute in midweek has an ankle problem. Striker Ryan Darmanin is rated as doubtful as he has yet to recover from the illness that ruled him out of the Marsaxlokk match.

On the plus side, Serbian defender Darko Krsteski is back in the squad after serving a one-match ban.

Carmel Busuttil is expected to stick with the same players who achieved a surprising 2-1 win over Birkirkara. Martin Deanov and Rumen Galabov are still on the injured list while Dominic Mifsud and Silvan Ciscaldi are down with flu.

The Pietà coach was delighted with his team's bold performance against the Stripes and hopes they can take their positive form into tomorrow's clash with the Greens.

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

Birkirkara and Msida St Joseph had little to smile about last week after suffering defeats to Pietà Hotspurs and Hamrun Spartans respectively.

Coach John Buttigieg conceded that his team deserved to take nothing from the match against Pietà due to their poor performance.

The Birkirkara coach will surely call on his players to raise their standards as they seek to return to winning ways against Msida who could turn out to be plucky opponents.

The Saints saw their recent positive streak come to an end with a 1-0 defeat to Hamrun. Coach Patrick Curmi felt that his team were unlucky not to take a point against the Spartans.

With very few points separating nine of the 10 teams in the Premier, the Msida mentor is urging his players to fight hard to collect more points as they look to stay in the hunt for a place in the Championship Pool.