Top-flight clubs eye progress

Four Premier League clubs will target a place in the second round of the U*Bet FA Trophy this weekend.

Eight-time winners Hibernians face St George's in today's opening clash at 1.30 p.m.

Although the Paolites are much stronger than the Cottonera outfit on paper, cup ties can be quite unpredictable and coach Mark Miller will be urging his troops to take the game seriously.

St George's, on their part, have failed to progress to the Division One KO semi-finals after finishing third in their group. Vittoriosa Stars await the winner of the Hibs-St George's match.

Miller is plagued by the absence of defender Adrian Pulis (hamstring) and striker Jean Paul Farrugia (hernia). Uruguayan midfielder Christian Callejas is out with a hamstring injury while Bulgarian Rumen Galabov has a groin strain.

Striker Andrew Cohen is available despite suffering from a hernia injury.

Ħamrun Spartans will be hoping for a change in fortunes when they face Rabat Ajax in today's second match (3.30 p.m.).

The 2008-09 campaign has been a disastrous one for the Spartans so far as they are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with only two points.

Steve D'Amato, who has taken over from Marco Gerada as coach of Ħamrun, will make his debut today. The former Melita coach will look at today's cup game as the ideal opportunity for his team to record their first win of the season.

Tomorrow, Msida and Qormi will be firm favourites to overcome their first-round hurdle when they face San Ġwann and Pietà Hotspurs respectively.

The Saints are on a high after their 3-2 comeback win over Ħamrun in their last league outing. Not so can be said of San Ġwann who finished bottom of their group in the Div. One KO.

The winner of this match will face Tarxien in the second round.

The last fixture of the weekend at the Centenary Stadium pits Qormi against Division One side Pietà Hotspurs.

Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa will be without midfielder Joseph Farrugia who is struggling with a foot injury while striker Carmel Formosa is out with a knee problem.

The winner of the Qormi-Pietà tie will meet either Ħamrun or Rabat in the second round.