Four teams involved in top-six deciders

Tarxien Rainbows vs Birkirkara (today at 2 p.m., National Stadium).

Birkirkara and Tarxien will be looking to put last week’s abject performances behind them when they face off today.

The Malta champions suffered a huge blow to their title defence bid after crashing to a 4-1 defeat to Qormi. The Rainbows suffered the same fate on Sunday as they went down 3-1 to rivals Hibs.

With only two points separating the second-placed Rainbows and Birkirkara, in fourth, victory for either side would ensure a more favourable sequence of fixtures in the Championship Pool.

Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, is sweating on the fitness of defender Andrei Agius who suffered a knee injury during Malta’s draw against Switzerland on Wednesday.

On a more positive note, the Stripes are set to parade their new signing, Ibrahim Babatunde, after completing the registration of the Nigerian winger.

Tarxien will be without Brazilian Daniel Mariano Bueno who was slapped with a three-match ban after his dismissal on Sunday.

Coach Noel Coleiro must also check on the fitness of Brazilian forward Ricardo who is still nursing a hamstring injury.

First round – Birkirkara vs Tarxien Rainbows 0-0.

Qormi vs Marsaxlokk (tomorrow at 3 p.m., Hibs Stadium).

This is a truly do-or-die match for both teams in their quest to reach the Championship Pool.

Marsaxlokk only need a point to make the top six while Qormi must take all three to at least force a decider.

Qormi go into tomorrow’s match in high spirits after their impressive 4-1 win over champions Birkirkara that saw Malta striker Michael Mifsud bag a hat-trick on his debut.

“We are going into this match with one target in mind, to take all points,” Stephen Azzopardi, the Qormi coach, said.

“There has been a lot of talk as to how other results could favour us but we are not giving them any importance. Our priority is to do our job.”

Azzopardi has an almost a full squad available. Roderick Sammut is still out with a knee injury while defender Jason Vandelannoite is doubtful with a foot problem.

Patrick Curmi, the Marsaxlokk coach, is confident his players will complete their mission tomorrow.

“We are ready for this match which will have a huge bearing on our season,” Curmi said. “We need one point to finish the job and although we have many players missing, I’m confident that those who will come in will do what is expected of them.”

Marsaxlokk are weakened by several absentees as Rumen Galabov, Martin Deanov, Gareth Sciberras and Andrew Spiteri must serve a one-match.

Trevor Templeman and Peter Pullicino return for Marsaxlokk after missing the 2-2 draw with Vittoriosa through suspension.

First round – Marsaxlokk vs Qormi 0-1.

Sliema Wanderers vs Hibs (tomorrow at 3 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Sliema will be looking to gain their second win in a row and hope for a helping hand from Lady Luck when they face Hibs.

The Wanderers’ 1-0 win over Floriana last week left them with an outside chance of forcing their way into the Championship Pool.

Danilo Doncic, the Sliema coach, must make do without Obinna Obiefule as the Nigerian is suspended. Miguel Ciantar is out with a knee injury.

Hibs have little to play for as they have long been condemned to the Relegation Pool but a win would boost their morale, especially after their success over Tarxien last week.

With six players on three yellow cards, coach Mark Miller could well opt to rest some or all of them to ensure that they are available for the opening Relegation Pool match against Vittoriosa.

Defender Matt Clarke is recovering from a knee injury while Adrian Pulis is sidelined with a dead leg.

First round result – Hibs vs Sliema 0-0.

Vittoriosa vs Ħamrun (tomorrow at 3 p.m., National Stadium).

After their battling display against Valletta, Ħamrun will be going all out for the three points against bottom-placed Vittoriosa in their bid to claim a top-six berth.

Steve D’Amato, the Ħamrun coach, is without two key players as striker Dene Shields and Massimo Grima received a one-match ban in midweek but Lee James Agius is back from suspension.

The Spartans are also expected to field Serbian defender Dragan Milovic who has been awarded a contract after training with the team for the past three weeks. He will replace the injured Roderick Fenech.

Winston Muscat, the Vittoriosa coach, must assess the fitness of goalkeeper Simon Agius who suffered a shoulder injury in last week’s 2-2 draw against Marsaxlokk.

If Agius fails to recover, Jean-Mathias Vella will be given the nod to guard the Stars’ goal.

First round – Ħamrun Spartans vs Vittoriosa Stars 2-0.

Championship Pool race

The permutations surrounding tomorrow’s decisive top-six clashes are various.

Marsaxlokk, currently fifth on 23 points, only need a point to make the Championship Pool while Qormi must take all three to force a decider at least. Ħamrun Spartans, level with Qormi on 20 points, will qualify for the Championship Pool if they beat Vittoriosa and Qormi fail to win.

For Qormi to secure outright qualification to the Championship Pool, they must beat Marsaxlokk with a four-goal margin to go top of the direct encounters’ classification, leaving the Blues and Ħamrun – provided the latter win – to fight for the remaining spot in a decider.

Defeats for the Spartans and Qormi and a win for Sliema would see the latter claim the final Championship Pool spot.

If Sliema, Ħamrun and Qormi all lose tomorrow, the latter two teams will play a decider for the last top-six berth.