Four teams strive to stay up

Four teams, one aim - survival.

The fight to escape the dreaded drop should deliver its final verdict tomorrow when the four strugglers, Qormi, Ħamrun Spartans, Msida St Joseph and Tarxien Rainbows, will be involved in crucial matches.

The last two fixtures of this season's Relegation Pool campaign were originally scheduled to take place over two days, i.e. one on Saturday and the other on Sunday, but with the relegation issue still wide open, the Malta FA took the somewhat unusual step of staging the two matches simultaneously.

On Thursday, the MFA council voted in favour of a motion to hold the remaining two Relegation Pool matches, Msida-Tarxien (Hibs Ground) and Qormi-Ħamrun (National Stadium), tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3 p.m.).

The four teams in the bottom cohort go into their final match with their top-flight status on the line. With the exception of Qormi, the other three must win their final match to stay up.

A draw between Ħamrun and Qormi would suffice to keep the latter in the top flight as the Premier League newcomers lead the Relegation Pool with 17 points, one better off than their impending opponents and two more than Msida and Tarxien.

A win for the Spartans would see them through and leave Qormi's survival bid in jeopardy.

Qormi would be relegated if they lose and the other match doesn't end in a draw but if Msida and Tarxien share the points and Ħamrun win, it will be the latter and Qormi who survive.

A combination of a Qormi win over Ħamrun and a draw between Msida and Tarxien would leave the latter three level on 16 points and force a decider between the two teams with the best head-to-head records.

The permutations are various but with the two matches being played concurrently, the coaches of the teams involved will be urging their players to shape their destiny by emerging victorious from their final match.

"We are going all out to win," Joe Abdilla, the Msida coach, said ahead of his side's encounter with Tarxien.

"This is a massive game for both teams but I'm upbeat. Tarxien haven't scored against us this season and this should give us confidence."

Andrew Spiteri is the only notable absentee for Msida. The former Pietà left-back has had surgery on ruptured cruciate ligaments in Belgium this week.

Abdilla is not expected to make many changes from the team that lost 2-1 to Qormi last weekend.

Noel Coleiro, the Tarxien coach, has no selection worries. Brazilian defender Everson Alan da Lima and Ramon Schembri return from suspension and Mark Tanti is also available after recovering from an ankle problem.

"This will be a decisive clash but the good thing is that we are in a position to determine our own fate," Coleiro told The Times.

"We know that we don't have to rely on other teams to reach our objective because a victory over Msida would assure us another season in the Premier League.

"I've never lost a decider in my coaching career. I hope to extend my 100 per cent record with Tarxien who have never succeeded in retaining their top-flight status the season after winning promotion."

Qormi may have a slight edge over their rivals but to accomplish their survival mission they must break their jinx against the Spartans, having lost their three previous meetings this season.

Doubtless, Qormi ought to take heart from their winning form of late as well as from their opponents' deficiencies as Ħamrun will be without four first-choice players after Sylvano Comvalius, Gaetan Spiteri, Steve Meilak and Mark Anthony Bonnici were all given a one-match suspension.

Jesmond Zerafa, the Qormi coach, dispelled suggestions that he may opt for a prudent approach in search of a draw that would secure Premier League survival.

"This is another cup final and our aim is to win," Zerafa said.

"A lot has been made of the fact that the two Relegation Pool matches will now be played on the same day and at the same time but it doesn't make any difference because our objective is still the same. We want to win this game."

Zerafa is expected to confirm the 11 players who started Sunday's 2-1 win over Msida.

A few players picked up knocks last week but Zerafa is hopeful that they will recover in time to face the Spartans.

Anatole Debono and Clifton Ciantar are still out of the equation though.

Stephen D'Amato, the Ħamrun coach, will ponder long and hard about his selection, what with so many key players ruled out by suspension.

The former Melita mentor is keeping his fingers crossed that right-back Jonathan Bondin shakes off the groin problem he sustained in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Tarxien. Aaron Attard has returned to training and should be available.

"The absence of key players has complicated our task but I'm not downhearted," D'Amato said. "We find ourselves in a must-win situation but we've got enough experience in the team to deal with the pressure.

"I'm confident that the team will be up for the challenge. These players have delivered the goods when the chips were down and I trust them to do the same on such an important occasion for the club of Ħamrun Spartans."

Previous results - Msida vs Tarxien 1-0, 2-0, 0-0; Ħamrun vs Qormi 3-2, 4-1, 2-1.