This weekend's other matches...

Qormi vs Birkirkara (today at 2 p.m., National Stadium).
Birkirkara will be looking to crank up the pressure on Valletta when they take on Qormi in today's curtain-raiser. Victory for the Stripes would send them three points clear at the top before Valletta's needle match against Hibs.

As for Qormi, they desperately need a win not only to improve their chances of qualifying for European competitions but also to stay in the title hunt after Jesmond Zerafa's outfit started the Championship Pool trek with a 1-0 reverse to Hibs.

Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, can't pick the same team that beat Sliema 2-1 last week as veteran defender Branko Nisevic and midfielder Paul Fenech are ruled out by suspension.

Zammit was expected to assess the fitness of Rowen Muscat yesterday evening after the young midfielder returned from international duty with Malta's U-21 team on Thursday night.

Qormi winger Ryan Deguara is out, suspended.

Results so far: Qormi vs Birkirkara 2-5, 0-2.

Ħamrun Spartans vs Floriana (tomorrow at 2 p.m., Hibs Stadium).
One point separates Floriana and Ħamrun Spartans who will go head to head in the only Relegation Pool match scheduled for this weekend.

Both teams are under pressure to win as third-from-bottom Msida St Joseph cut the gap on the leading duo after their 3-2 win over Dingli Swallows last weekend.

Floriana coach Zoran Popovic has no option but to send out a patched-up team as several first-team players are ruled out by suspension and injury.

Orosco Anonam and Julian Briffa must serve a one-match ban after their red card in the 4-1 defeat to Tarxien Rainbows in the FA Trophy while Joseph Borg and Christian Caruana are doubtful.

Clifton Ciantar and Luke Agius are still on the casualty list. The Greens released Russian striker Victor Zlydarev this week but, at the time of writing, they were still waiting for the MFA's go-ahead to sign Michael Gebru, who last played for an American team.

Ħamrun Spartans moved swiftly to bring in a replacement for Joao Mawete Jr who cancelled his contract with the Premier League club by mutual consent.

Nigerian forward Obinna Polycarp Obiefule yesterday agreed to join the Spartans until the end of the season. Obiefule, who has been training with the Spartans since last week, could make his debut in tomorrow's match.

Steve D'Amato, the Spartans coach, can't rely on Diego Armando Cucciardi, who is serving an indefinite ban for doping, Jonathan Holland and Timothy Fleri Soler but Mark Anthony Bonnici should return after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Results so far: Ħamrun vs Floriana 0-1, 1-1.

Tarxien Rainbows vs Sliema Wanderers (tomorrow at 4 p.m., Hibs Stadium).
Tarxien and Sliema are eager to make a quick return to winning ways after both lost their opening Championship Pool matches.

Last week, Sliema suffered their first defeat in five league games after crashing 2-1 to Birkirkara while Tarxien slipped to their first upset to Valletta who beat them 6-2.

Mark Marlow, the Sliema coach, welcomes back Alex Muscat and Ryan Fenech, two players who were in Malta's starting line-up for Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Finland. Muscat and Fenech will almost certainly replace Josef Mifsud and John Mintoff, both out through suspension.

Midfielder Mark Scerri has resumed training but he's unlikely to play tomorrow.

Tarxien Rainbows coach Noel Coleiro is plagued by the absence of Denni, his attacking lynch-pin.

The Brazilian has been hit with a one-match ban after collecting his fourth booking against Valletta.

Results so far: Tarxien vs Sliema 3-1, 2-4.