The other Premier League matches

Sliema Wanderers vs Hibs (today at 4 p.m., National Stadium)

Sliema Wanderers and Hibs have experienced contrasting fortunes lately. While Sliema have strung together a run of three successive wins, the champions have gone five league matches without a win. In midweek, Hibs bowed out of the Anniversary Cup after a 2-0 defeat to Valletta.

Now that they have allayed their Relegation Pool worries, the Blues can look at higher targets and coach Mark Marlow knows that victory today would put them back in the title race.

Marlow must make do without Brazilian playmaker Pedrinho who received a one-match ban for his sending-off against Floriana.

Midfielder Mark Scerri is out with an ankle sprain and Julio Alcorse is not 100 per cent fit due to a thigh problem.

Hibs' stuttering form of late has left Mark Miller dejected but the English coach is confident that his team will turn things round sooner rather than later.

"Players have to take responsibility," Miller said.

"We've had to change things at our club. We've brought in two strikers (Miguel Lopes de Pina and Elton Morelato) but you can't expect them to come in and improve things straightaway. They're still not 100 per cent match fit but in the last game, I saw evidence of their potential.

"I've also had to change the system because everybody got used to how we played. This match against Sliema is very important because a win is worth an extra two points for us in the Championship Pool."

Hibs' elimination from the Anniversary Cup means that Jonathan Pearson's red card in the defeat to Valletta makes him ineligible to play against Sliema.

Ryan Camilleri is doubtful and Etienne Barbara has just recovered from a bout of flu. Uruguayan Christian Callejas is set for a return after shaking off an ankle problem.

First round - Sliema vs Hibs 1-0.

Floriana vs Msida St Joseph (tomorrow at 2 p.m., Hibs Stadium)

Floriana's slide into the Relegation Pool has given their match against Msida an extra edge. The stakes are high for both sides as victory for Floriana would give them a six-point lead over Msida in the Relegation Pool whereas a win for the latter would take them within three points of the Greens.

Zoran Popovic, the Floriana coach, is concerned about the fitness of goalkeeper Bernard Paris, Brian Said and Clifton Ciantar. Argentine midfielder Pablo Doffo is suspended.

The Greens were also engaged in efforts yesterday to replace Russian forward Viktor Zlydarev with an American striker who was part of the Ferencvaros squad that had a training camp in Malta recently.

Msida coach Keith Gouder is without defender Cedric Sciberras, who has a groin injury, and youngster Joseph D'Amato.

First round - Floriana vs Msida 2-1.

Ħamrun Spartans vs Tarxien Rainbows (tomorrow at 4 p.m., Hibs Stadium)

Tarxien are on a high after booking their place in the Championship Pool but the same cannot be said for Ħamrun who now face a tense fight against the drop.

Coach Steve D'Amato is buoyed by the return from suspension of Rupert Mangion, Roderick Fenech and Ian Zammit. Brazilian forward Marcelo Pereira must serve a one-match ban and Jonathan Holland is still sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Diego Armando Cucciardi has been suspended indefinitely after he failed a doping test, while Mead Mifsud and Timothy Fleri Soler are unavailable.

Tarxien extended their positive spell on Wednesday when beating Lija Athletic 2-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Anniversary Cup.

Denni has shaken off the knock that kept him out of Wednesday's cup match but coach Noel Coleiro must cope without Andrew Decesare, suspended, and injured striker Warren Chircop.

First round - Ħamrun vs Tarxien 1-0.

Dingli Swallows vs Valletta (Monday at 7.30 p.m., Tedesco Stadium)

Valletta should encounter little trouble to dispose of basement team Dingli Swallows and secure pole position ahead of the start of the Championship Pool.

Coach Ton Caanen must make at least three changes from the side that humbled Ħamrun Spartans 4-0 last weekend as captain Gilbert Agius, Terrence Scerri and Doding Priso are all suspended.

Dingli defender Shawn Tellus can't face the Citizens as his sending-off in last week's 4-0 upset to Qormi cost him a one-match ban.

First round - Valletta vs Dingli 4-1.