Hibs, Sliema chase morale booster

With the start of the 2009/10 Premier League looming large, champions Hibs and Sliema Wanderers, the U*Bet FA Trophy holders, will be looking to attain a psychological fillip and add another piece of silverware to their collections when they face off in the BOV Super Cup at the National Stadium (kick-off 7.30 p.m.).

Hibs earned the right to contest the BOV Super Cup after beating Valletta to the Premier League title while Sliema Wanderers booked their place thanks to their win over the Citizens in a nailbiting FA Trophy final.

If the 1-1 draw between Hibs and Sliema in the pre-season Euro Cup is anything to go, this evening's match promises to be another balanced affair.

Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, sees today's match as a useful opportunity to gauge the level of fitness of his team ahead of their league opener against Marsaxlokk on Sunday.

"This is the first real competitive match since the European games," Miller told The Times.

"It will be interesting to see where our squad is in terms of fitness. At present, we have many players at different levels of fitness but I'd say that 60 to 70 per cent of our squad are on the same level.

"This will be our fourth game in nine days as we've played three matches in the Carlsberg Tournament. There's a cup at stake and winning it would be a bonus for us before the start of the league."

Hibs went down to Montenegro's FK Mogren, 6-0 on aggregate, in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.

Miller has yet to sign a replacement for striker Terrence Scerri who defected to Valletta earlier this month.

Iyseden Christie, an English forward, turned out for Hibs in the Carlsberg Tournament but it appears that Miller still needs convincing about the trialist's credentials to fill the huge void left by Scerri.

It's unlikely that Hibs will register Christie in time for him to play in the Super Cup but Miller was expected to make a decision today.

Miller has also been tracking Etienne Barbara but the Malta forward, who is also being courted by Floriana, is still assessing his options.

Defender Aaron Xuereb and young wing-back Yan Cauchi are sidelined with injuries for Hibs.

Sliema Wanderers, who suffered a 3-0 aggregate defeat to Israel's Maccabi Netanya in the second qualifying round of the Europa League, have high hopes of mounting a strong challenge for the title this season. They have signed a host of new players, including Clayton Failla from Hibs, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza from Birkirkara, Josef Mifsud from Valletta and Ryan Fenech, plucked on loan from Ħamrun Spartans.

Stephen Azzopardi, the Sliema coach, may also give a debut to Brazilian goalkeeper Maicon Gustavo who has been awarded a contract by the Blues after leaving a good impression during a trial. Maicon's arrival prompted Sliema to give Henry Bonello, the Malta U-21 goalkeeper, the green light to join Vittoriosa Stars on loan for one year.

Having lifted the Super Cup several times during his time at the helm of Birkirkara, Azzopardi is keen to win it again with Sliema Wanderers.

"The Super Cup is the third most important trophy in Maltese football," Azzopardi said. "It is also an interesting challenge as it is a clash between the champions and the FA Trophy winners, the two most successful sides of the previous season.

"All teams like to start their season on a positive note and thanks to our involvement in the BOV Super Cup, we have the opportunity to do that."

Azzopardi anticipates a balanced match. "I believe it's going to be close because Hibs and Sliema are more or less on a par," he said.

"Hibs have to be regarded as slight favourites because they are the champions. True, they don't have the same squad as last year but we've also had our fair share of changes. You always hope that the changes will make your team better but this is not always the case."

Sliema begin their league campaign with a match against newly-promoted Vittoriosa on Saturday.

If the score in today's Super Cup match is even at the end of the regular 90 minutes, extra-time will be played. If the stalemate persists at the end of the additional 30 minutes, a penalty shoot-out will decide the winner.