So, the match everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived.
Today (6 p.m.), the two great antagonists of Maltese waterpolo, Neptunes Emirates and Sliema McDonald’s, will be involved in another decisive clash where the title honours will go the way of the Balluta Bay Reds if they succeed in avoiding defeat at the hands of the Blues, the current champions.
With the three other teams in Division One providing little if no challenge to the two big guns, at present Sliema are trailing leaders Neptunes by two points in the standings.
Victory for Sergio Afric’s team today would mean they join Neptunes at the top of the table, equal on 25 points and a play-off would be required to determine the 2010 champions.
In that case, the ASA yesterday announced that the decider will be played on Monday at 6 p.m.
Sliema won the championship a record 31 times and on six occasions since 2001. However, they face a mammoth task to retain the title for a third consecutive time this time round.
Neptunes looked the more consistent team this summer bar their last outing where, perhaps, they let complacency creep inside their game and only managed to beat San Ġiljan 16-13 after putting three last-gasp goals past the Saints.
Pity that lively match had to be marred by some violent scenes on the pool deck but the less said about those incidents the better as the ASA will be hoping things return to normal in time for today’s big match.
Indeed, it was an appropriate gesture by club officials on TV this week, urging the fans to continue supporting the game but show more sporting spirit and respect to their opponents.
The Reds, under the shrewd charge of Russian Sergey Markoch, are still unbeaten after 13 matches as they cruised past all their opponents, including Sliema who conceded a 14-11 defeat in the corresponding first round derby four weeks ago.
This will be the third time for Sliema and Neptunes to play against each other this summer as the championship again started with a preliminary round phase before teams were split in Division One and Two.
In that early-season match, the spoils were shared following a 9-9 draw.