Season 2008-09 is heading towards an enthralling climax. At the top of the standings, the duel between Hibernians and Valletta is likely to be decided on the final day but the compelling four-way battle to avoid relegation should end this weekend, i.e. if there is no need for a decider to resolve the issue.

Qormi, Ħamrun Spartans, Tarxien Rainbows and Msida St Joseph are the four teams fighting for dear life.

With only two points separating the four teams, the permutations surrounding this weekend's final fixtures are manifold. Tarxien and Msida, who meet on Saturday, need a win to seal their survival mission without having to worry about the outcome of Sunday's clash between Qormi and Ħamrun.

Top of the Relegation Pool with 17 points, Qormi are only one point away from salvation. A victory for Ħamrun on Sunday would dispel their relegation spectre and condemn Qormi, provided that the Tarxien-Msida encounter doesn't end in a draw.

If Saturday's match finishes all square, a draw between Qormi and Ħamrun would suit both but the situation will become more complex if the Spartans lose and Msida and Tarxien share the spoils. This would leave three teams level on 16 points and force a relegation play-off.

Were this scenario to materialise, the head-to-head record between the three teams will be taken into account and the one with the worst results in direct encounters will be demoted while the other two sides will play a decider.

The four teams are determined to banish all the ifs and buts by winning their remaining match.

"Our final match will make or break our season," Qormi midfielder Keith Fenech said. "We've worked hard over the last 10 months to boost our chances of staying in the Premier League and we're just one point from reaching our objective.

"Consistency has been our main problem this season but winning the last two matches has definitely enhanced our self-confidence.

"Ħamrun have been our bogey team this season but I'm confident that we will rise to the occasion come Sunday."

Fenech, who joined Qormi on loan from Valletta last summer, is one of the most experienced players in Jesmond Zerafa's squad. The combative midfielder has been involved in many high-pressure games during his Premier League career, mostly when playing for the likes of Birkirkara and Valletta, but he has found the experience of being part of a relegation-troubled team more draining, psychologically.

"There is intense pressure on players when their team is fighting for the title but it's even harder when you are fighting against the drop," Fenech said. "The thought that your team might lose its place in the country's top league is not easy to deal with but you have to try and transform it into positive energy."

The relegation teams will certainly look to their senior players to provide the inspiration in the weekend's decisive skirmishes.

Veteran Ħamrun striker Stefan Sultana, the Premier League's all-time top scorer with 197 goals, was looking forward to a serene swansong but his final competitive match will be anything but.

"I would have preferred my last match to be a pressure-free affair but this won't be the case ," the 40-year-old said. "The chances are that I will play on Sunday because we have no fewer than four players suspended.

"It's going to be a very difficult match but it's also an incentive for me to be involved."

Although Sultana will be remembered for his scoring exploits and the success he enjoyed with Ħamrun in the early years of his career, he is no stranger to relegation scraps. In season 2002-03, Sultana was in the Ħamrun team that secured their Premier League status with a last-day 1-0 win over rivals Marsa.

"I've got nice memories of that decisive clash with Marsa," Sultana said. "We went into the match knowing that a draw was enough for us to avoid relegation but we finished our season on a high after beating Marsa 1-0."

Tarxien Rainbows midfielder David Camilleri stressed the importance of keeping one's nerves under check in crucial matches.

"The onus is on both sides to win," Camilleri said of Tarxien's tiff with Msida. "I believe that the team that shows the better composure during the match will have a better chance of winning.

"I'm very positive about our chances. It looks like we're going to have a full squad and this is already a boost for us. The mood among the squad is very good and we're looking forward to Saturday."

Camilleri believes that Tarxien have an edge over Msida in attack. "Msida have struggled to find the net in recent matches," the veteran midfielder added. "We have scored more goals than Msida this season and our attack has been our best weapon so far.

"Goals have dried up lately as we've only netted once in the last three matches but I fancy us to find the scoring touch against Msida."

Msida possess the worst record in the Relegation Pool, four points from five matches, but defender Tyrone Farrugia is backing his team to come good against Tarxien.

"I'm absolutely confident that we can win against Tarxien and retain our Premier League status," Farrugia said. "The stakes can't be higher but I believe that we've got the experience to cope with the pressure."

After suffering defeats in their opening Relegation Pool matches, Msida drew with Tarxien and defeated Ħamrun to put their survival bid back on track. Last weekend, Msida again looked devoid of inspiration after throwing away a 1-0 lead in a 2-1 loss to Qormi.

"Our performance against Qormi was disappointing but in the previous two matches, we showed that we can play good football. I believe that we can regain our form on Saturday and we're all determined to show our true worth."

Suspensions

Ħamrun will be without four players for Sunday's match against Qormi after Mark Anthony Bonnici, Gaetan Spiteri, Sylvano Comvalius and Steve Meilak received a one-match ban yesterday.

Birkirkara's Alan Tabone has also been suspended and will miss his side's clash with Valletta on Monday.

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