Hibs, Sliema aim to keep spirits high

Buoyed by wins in their opening matches of the Euro Cup, Hibs and Sliema Wanderers go head-to-head in this evening's first match at the Centenary Stadium (kick-off 7).

Sliema kicked off their 2009-2010 campaign on an uplifting note after John Mintoff's second-half goal earned them a 1-0 win over Birkirkara. A much-changed Hibs team were still good enough to inflict a 2-0 defeat on Valletta in Monday's second match.

Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, is expected to give another run-out to the three players who are having a trial with the Paolites.

Hibs only have one vacancy for a foreign player after retaining Rumen Galabov and Christian Callejas.

The Uruguayan midfielder was absent from Hibs' squad on Monday.

Milan Cvetic and Taki Abelilah staked their claim for a permanent deal by scoring a goal apiece. The other trialist at Hibs is Ouichou El Houssaine.

Miller is expected to include Edward Herrera in his starting XI today after Hibs reached agreement with Melita to make the right-back's move permanent.

Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi fielded his four new signings in Monday's win over Birkirkara. Clayton Failla, Ryan Fenech and Josef Mifsud played from the start and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza came on at the start of the second half.

Ivan Woods may return for Sliema after missing Monday's opener with a calf injury and Jeffrey Chetcuti is available after serving his one-match ban. Miguel Ciantar is sidelined with a groin problem.

If the first match on the card is a clash of winners, the second is a meeting between the two losing sides from Monday's games.

Given that the teams have just started their pre-season training, their main target in the Euro Cup is for the players to get some competitive action under their belt. Nevertheless, no-one likes to lose, especially when you're competing against a big rival and that is certainly the case as far as Valletta and Birkirkara are concerned.

The Citizens looked jaded in their 2-0 loss to Hibs but their lacklustre showing is likely to increase their motivation to do better today.

For Ton Caanen, City's new Dutch coach, the Euro Cup matches are part of his acclimatisation process.

"I'm using these matches to observe my team," Caanen said.

"At the end of the week, I will make a full analysis of the players' performances and from Saturday, I will start to work to help them improve. I believe that in six to eight weeks' time, we will be ok."

There are high expectations around Valletta's foreign trio, especially Jordi Cruyff but the Dutch midfielder was subdued against Hibs. The same goes for Leon Kantelberg but Sendley Bito left a better impression.

Bito will miss today's match and possibly Friday's after flying to Ukraine to sort out some pending issues with Arsenal Kiev, his former club. Doding Priso is in line for a return after skipping Monday's match through suspension and Jamie Pace could also earn a place in the squad after returning from his holidays yesterday.

Caanen will travel to Iceland tomorrow morning to watch Keflavik, Valletta's Europa League opponents, play Throttur in the Icelandic league.

John Buttigieg, Birkirkara's interim coach, is expected to give the three Serbian trialists another chance to show their worth tonight. Midfielder Paul Fenech is available for selection after suspension kept him out of the 1-0 loss to Sliema.

Michael Galea and George Mallia are recovering from surgery while Ron Hartvig is unlikely to be risked. The Dane suffered a slight concussion after accidentally colliding with Birkirkara goalkeeper Bernard Paris in the latter stages of Monday's curtain-raiser.

Fixtures (Centenary Stadium)

Today - 7 p.m. Sliema vs Hibs; 9 p.m. Valletta vs Birkirkara.

Friday - 7 p.m. Sliema vs Valletta; 9 p.m. Birkirkara vs Hibs.