The other matches this weekend

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

FA Trophy finalists Valletta and Sliema Wanderers lock horns in their opening fixture from the Championship Pool.

The Wanderers are the only team to avoid defeat against Valletta this season. In fact, both matches from the first phase of the championship ended in a draw. So, the Citizens will be looking to finally take the edge over their opponents to apply more pressure on leaders Hibernians.

Valletta coach Paul Zammit will be encouraged with his team's performance last weekend against Birkirkara in the Trophy semi-final and will demand more of the same this afternoon.

Edmond Agius returns for the Citizens after missing the semi-final through suspension. Sebastian Monesterolo has recovered from a knee injury but Stefan Giglio is definitely out after shoulder surgery.

Sliema have almost a full squad available with the exception of goalkeeper Henry Bonello, who serves a one-match ban, and midfielder Mark Scerri who is nursing a knee injury.

The Wanderers' qualification to the Trophy final has put the side on the brink of a return to European football. However, coach Stephen Azzopardi is taking nothing forgranted and wants the Blues to pick up points on a consistent basis as he looks to steer his team into one of the three Europa League places available.

Previous results: Sliema Wanderers vs Valletta 1-1, 0-0.

Qormi vs Tarxien Rainbows (tomorrow, Tedesco Stadium at 2 p.m.)

The real business starts now for Qormi and Tarxien Rainbows.

Given the little difference in points that seperates all four Relegation Pool teams, victory is a must for both Qormi and Tarxien to step up their fight and prolong their stay in the Premier League by another year.

Qormi hold a psychological edge in this clash after coming out tops on the two occasions they met in the Premier League this season.

However, the Rainbows' good form of late should point to a hard-fought encounter at the Tedesco Stadium.

Qormi will be without defender Ramon Dos Santos, who is serving a one-match ban, but otherwise coach Jesmond Zerafa has a full compliment at his disposal.

Noel Coleiro, Zerafa's counterpart at Tarxien, has some selection problems as Andrew Decesare (ankle) and Manuel Caruana (hamstring) are out while strikers Mariano Bueno and Denni Dos Santos are facing a race against time to recover from an ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.

Previous results: Tarxien Rainbows vs Qormi 0-3, 0-1.

Floriana vs Birkirkara (tomorrow, Tedesco Stadium at 4 p.m.)

After the upset in the FA Trophy semi-final, Birkirkara will be determined to kick off their Championship Pool campaign in style by beating Floriana.

The Stripes, third in the adjusted points table, just five behind leaders Hibernians, are still in the reckoning for the league title but first they want to secure European football next season and victory over the fifth-placed Greens will put them on their way.

John Buttigieg, the Birkirkara coach, is urging his players to forget the FA Trophy and embark on a consistent run in the Championship Pool.

Buttigieg is likely to make some changes in his starting formation as foreign trio Mauro Di Lello, Ivaylo Sokolov and Kirill Dimitrov-Mihaylov are all expected to be recalled after being unfit for the semi-final.

For Floriana, this match is crucial as failure to take all three points could severely hamper their aspirations to challenge for a place in Europe.

Coach Antonio Vieira will make one forced changed to his team as Sunday Eboh serves a one-match ban.

Previous results: Birkirkara vs Floriana 0-1, 2-1.