Msida SJ vs Qormi (today at 4 p.m., National Stadium).
A host of players are expected to make their debut for Msida today. Serb defender Zoran Levnaic, formerly of Hamrun, and Argentine forward Emiliano Lattes are certain to start but the participation of Olushola Aganun, back after a six-year spell in Austrian football, is still in doubt as Msida were still waiting for his international transfer certificate yesterday afternoon.
Mark Marlow, the Msida coach, can't bank on winger Adrian Farrugia, suspended. Farrugia also faces a short spell on the sidelines as he has been hospitalised after contracting a virus, club sources said.
Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa will surely have warned his players about the perils of approaching today's match with an air of over-confidence after the 1-0 victory over Sliema last month. Zerafa must make one change from the team that beat Sliema as defender Sharlon Pace is out with a thigh problem.
Hamrun vs Birkirkara (today at 6 p.m., National Stadium).
Sylvano Comvalius will face the team that lured him to Malta as Birkirkara take on Hamrun.
The Spartans' relegation last season was the main reason why they transferred the Dutch forward but earlier this month, the seven-time Malta champions earned a reprieve in the shape of promotion to replace demoted Marsaxlokk.
Birkirkara, who have three points from their opening two matches, have no selection problems. Coach Paul Zammit is expected to give a first start to Serb defender Nikola Vukanac, signed by the Stripes as a replacement for Ron Hartvig. Branko Nisevic, who joined Birkirkara as assistant coach in the close season, has heeded Zammit's call to come out of retirement. The Serb, who plays in defence, is in line for a place in Zammit's first XI today.
Czech defender Martin Hrubsa, Brazilian forward Marcelo Pereira, Jonathan Holland, Timothy Fleri Soler, Clyde Camoin, Mark Barbara and goalkeeper Luca Grech are expected to make their official debut for the Spartans.
Grech will deputise for Ivan Casha who is suspended.
Floriana vs Tarxien (tomorrow at 4 p.m., National Stadium).
Still reeling from the 6-0 drubbing to Valletta, Floriana hope to bounce back with a victory over Tarxien but their task looks anything but easy.
The Greens not only have to contend with a solid Tarxien side, they have also suffered a double setback with the news that midfielder Christian Cassar and defender Sunday Eboh are out for the season with cruciate injuries.
These are indeed difficult times for Floriana and their Irish coach Roddy Collins whose resources are further decimated by injuries to goalkeeper Bernard Paris, Luke Agius and Joseph Borg while Orosco Anonam is doubtful.
Tarxien, who are in the race to sign defender Brian Said, are keen to make a return to winning ways after the 2-0 upset to Birkirkara. Goalkeeper Anthony Curmi and midfielder Ryan Grech are sidelined with injuries but Brazilian defender Anderson Mendes Ribeiro returns from suspension.
Hibs vs Dingli (tomorrow at 6 p.m., National Stadium).
Hibs have high hopes of kicking off their title defence with a victory against newly-promoted Dingli Swallows. The champions beat Marsaxlokk 3-1 in their first outing but that match has been annulled.
Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, is expected to have Olegs Malasenoks in his squad. The 23-year-old Latvian striker has received Miller's nod to become the team's third foreign player.
Aaron Xuereb and Ben Camilleri are ruled out by injuries. Adrian Pulis, Jonathan Caruana and Ryan Camilleri have also been struggling with minor injuries but Miller is confident that they will be fit to play tomorrow.
Dingli started their first campaign in the top flight with a 4-1 defeat to Tarxien. Wing-back Dino Cachia is doubtful but otherwise Jesmond Zammit, the Dingli coach, has no selection worries.