This weekend's other matches

Msida St Joseph vs Dingli Swallows (today at 2 p.m., Hibs Ground)

Relegation candidates Msida St Joseph and Dingli Swallows lift the curtains on this weekend's programme.

Both teams come into the match on the back of successive defeats. The Swallows went down 3-0 to Ħamrun Spartans in the league and then lost 4-1 to Vittoriosa Stars in the Anniversary Cup. Msida suffered a narrow 1-0 league defeat to Hibs and a 5-0 hammering to Tarxien Rainbows in the Anniversary Cup.

With one point separating the two bottom sides, victory today is a must for both Msida and Dingli as they look to move out of the lower places in the table.

Msida coach Mark Marlow is likely to field only one foreign player today, Argentine forward Emiliano Lattes as Serbian midfielder Zoran Levnaic is still hampered by a knee injury while Olushola Aganun is currently on a trial with a Vietnamese club.

Jesmond Zammit, the Dingli coach, is boosted by the return of Nigerian striker Joseph Okonkwo but Andre Rocha Da Silva is rated as doubtful as he is still struggling with a hamstring injury.

Victor Fiteni and Shaun Tellus will sit out today's match due to suspension.

Hibernians vs Floriana (today at 4 p.m., Hibs Ground)

Champions Hibernians have the chance to open a three-point gap at the top of the Premier League, at least for 24 hours, when they host Floriana this afternoon.

The Paolites are level with Qormi and Valletta on 13 points but the latter two teams are not in action today.

Hibs coach Mark Miller, who is serving a four-match touchline ban, is wary of the threat posed by Floriana who have shown signs of improvement in their last outings.

Miller must make do without defender Jonathan Caruana, Ben Camilleri and Rumen Galabov, all ruled out by injuries, but forward Andrew Cohen is likely to make his comeback from a thigh injury today.

Apart from long-term absentees Sunday Eboh and Christian Cassar, Floriana coach Roddy Collins has no injury troubles.

Sliema Wanderers vs Birkirkara (Monday at 7.30 p.m., Tedesco Stadium)

Sliema Wanderers and Birkirkara will be looking to close the gap on the Premier League front-runners when they face each other on Monday at the Tedesco Stadium.

This match represents a good test for both teams who have been somewhat inconsistent so far.

Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi is sweating on the fitness of winger Clayton Failla who picked up a knock in Malta's friendly against Bulgaria this week while striker Miguel Ciantar is out for five weeks after suffering a knee injury in Malta U-21's 1-0 defeat away to Slovenia last week.

Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, is concerned about his team's troubles upfront as the Stripes have only scored 10 goals in nine competitive matches.

The Birkirkara mentor is sure to be without Karl Pulo who is out for up to four weeks with a foot injury but the other players are available for selection.

Meanwhile, Birkirkara players will be at the McDonald's outlet in Birkirkara today around lunchtime to take part in a fund-raising activity in aid of Dar il-Kaptan.