Ħamrun Spartans and Sliema Wanderers kick off this weekend’s Premier League programme when they cross swords at the Tedesco Stadium (kick-off: 7.30 p.m.) in a clash that could hold a huge bearing on their Championship Pool aspirations this season.
The Spartans are currently better placed than Sliema in the race for a top six slot as they are fourth on 16 points.
The Wanderers stuttered badly so far and currently they are trailing in eighth place with 11 points. They have no other option this evening than to bag all points to avoid playing in the dreaded Relegation Pool.
Last week, the Spartans fell 2-0 down in the opening two minutes against Tarxien Rainbows before crashing to a disappointing 3-1 defeat to the Premier League surprise package.
Sliema could only manage a 1-1 draw against Marsaxlokk in their last outing, a result that did little to improve their situation in the standings and, more worryingly, stretched their win drought in the league to eight matches.
The Wanderers beat Ħamrun 3-1 in the corresponding first round fixture so the Spartans are treating this match with great caution, knowing that another upset could see them embroiled in a tight and nervy fight to secure their status.
Steve D’Amato, the Ħamrun coach, is urging his team to show their true mettle. He is confident the players can bag a priceless victory today that would put them in a more comfortable position in the standings.
“Our destiny is in our hands,” D’Amato told The Times yesterday. “Victory over Sliema would put us in a stronger position and at the same time handing a decisive blow to one of our rivals.
“We lost badly against Tarxien last week, but the morale in our camp is still okay so I’m expecting the players to maintain the high level of performance shown in the last weeks.
“We conceded two early goals against Tarxien that jeopardised our chances but I was encouraged by the response of the players.
“They did produce a stirring fightback. In the end, I felt we were rather unlucky not to win a point. But, I’m sure that if we show the same kind of determination against Sliema, the three points will be within our reach.”
D’Amato will be without striker Dene Shields. The Scot is set to undergo knee surgery. He has already been sidelined for six weeks.
Rupert Mangion also faces a long spell out, also with knee trouble, but Lee James Agius could be back in the fold today. However, Mark Anthony Bonnici, Ryan Fenech and Gaetan Spiteri are all rated doubtful after missing training due to flu.
Mark Marlow, the Sliema coach, is also dealing with a long list of absentees as Steve Bezzina (calf), Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (calf), Miguel Ciantar (concussion), Mark Scerri (knock), Obinna Obiefule (hamstring) and Julian Briffa (hamstring) could all skip the Ħamrun clash.
Marlow labelled this match as the turning point of the Wanderers’ season and added that failure to beat the Spartans would all but seal his team’s fate of playing in the Relegation Pool. “This is a massive game for us,” Marlow said.
“There is only one good result for us – victory. If we lose, than I can’t see ourselves making the Championship Pool. The players are approaching the match with great belief as we have already beaten Ħamrun this season and we have to do it again to keep hoping.
“The injuries hit us badly this season. We did not win any of our recent matches in the league but the performances were all encouraging. So, we must start winning points now or else all our plans for the season will disappear.”