Champions Neptunes Emirates resume their league campaign when they take on Sirens Ritter Sport this evening at the National Pool (7 p.m.).

Having gained maximum points from their opening four league matches, the Reds are widely expected to extend their perfect run at the expense of Sirens who have blown hot and cold this summer.

In midweek, the St Paul’s Bay outfit went down 11-7 to San Ġiljan Giuseppe’s.

The play-off format has somewhat diminished the importance of the matches in the regular league campaign as four teams out of five are guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals, irrespective of the points they gain during the normal two rounds.

Although Neptunes are already virtually assured of a place in the play-offs and probably top spot, they have been unrelenting in their bid to underline their supremacy throughout the entire campaign.

A win today would restore Neptunes’ six-point lead over second-placed San Ġiljan who meet Sliema McDonald’s to-morrow. A well-fought encounter is expected between the Saints and the Blues as both will be looking to sharpen up before the much-awaited play-offs.

After halting their dismal run with an 11-6 win over Exiles, Sliema will be looking at their clash with the improved San Ġiljan as an opportunity to show that they are getting back on track ahead of ‘crunch time’.

With only three games left before the play-offs, San Ġiljan will all but secure second spot if they do the double on Sliema tomorrow whereas a win for the latter would narrow their gap on the Saints to only two points.

Programme

Today: Division Two 5.45 p.m. Otters vs Ta’ Xbiex; Division One 7 p.m. Sirens vs Neptunes.

Tomorrow: Division Two 4.45 p.m. Valletta vs Marsascala; Division One 6 p.m. San Ġiljan vs Sliema.