Greens aim to stay in touch with front duo

Floriana will be aiming to keep front-runners Valletta and Hibs in sight when they take on Ħamrun Spartans at the Hibs Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 2 p.m.).

If their positions in the standings are anything to go by, Floriana should be regarded as favourites to see off a team 13 points and six places behind them but their task is unlikely to be as straightforward as the statistics suggest, what with the Spartans intent on reviving their top-six bid.

Ħamrun still have an uphill struggle to claw their way back into contention for a Championship Pool place but their 3-1 victory over Tarxien Rainbows last week has given them a flicker of hope.

With the derby against Qormi next after the Floriana clash, the importance of Sunday’s match has not been lost on Ħamrun Spartans coach Jesmond Zammit.

“We’ve done well in the critical games but we’ve not delivered in the others,” Zammit said.

“The next game is very important. After Floriana, we have a crucial match against Qormi, one that could define our season.

“If we manage to take the points from our game with Floriana, we would get back in the running for the top six.”

Massimo Grima is back in the frame for the Spartans after serving a one-match ban but Daniel Zerafa is out of the picture after picking up an injury in the Tarxien match.

Goalkeeper Omar Borg is still recuperating from a thigh problem while Gaetan Spiteri and Lee James Agius are still serving supension.

The victory over Tarxien will have lifted the Spartans’ morale but Zammit stressed that his players have never lacked motivation.

“The enthusiasm has always been there,” Zammit said. “The players were conscious of the difficulties the team was facing because of injuries and suspensions but they continued to give their all.

“The win over Tarxien provided a much-needed psychological boost ahead of our next few games.”

While acknowledging that Floriana will be awkward opponents on Sunday, Zammit believes that the Spartans have no reason to fear the high-flying Greens.

“Floriana’s strength is evident,” Zammit remarked. “They are good in defence and their midfield is very compact. They are hard to beat and this is manifested in their results and position in the table.

“That said, I have faith in my squad. On our day, we can certainly compete with teams like Floriana.”

After finishing runners-up last season, Floriana are keen to sustain their progress.

“It’s important that we stay in touch with the front duo,” said Michael Woods, the Floriana coach. “We must look upward.

“The aim is to challenge the top teams as our place in the Championship Pool is virtually assured with the points we have.”

Christian Caruana and Ivan Woods are in line to return for Floriana after completing their recovery from injuries but Christian Cassar is suspended.

Togo international Eric Akoto was expected to fly into Malta yesterday with a view to joining the Greens but it remains to be seen whether the 31-year-old defender will be registered in time for him to face the Spartans.

Floriana could also give a debut to Nigerian striker Onome Sodje, who has an English passport, in Sunday’s game after his international transfer certificate from the Vietnamese FA arrived yesterday. Marsaxlokk’s Malcolm Licari is also believed to be on the verge of agreeing a move to Floriana.

In Pablo Doffo and Andre Grabowski, Floriana have two of the most reliable foreigners in the Premier League but several other overseas players have come and go after failing to make the desired impact for the Greens in the opening four months of the season.

The uncertainty over the foreign players made Woods’s job somewhat more complicated but to his and club president Johan Said’s credit, Floriana overcame some early wobbles to remain in the top part of the table.

“I’m satisfied with our progress so far,” Woods said. “Despite the difficulties we had because of the foreign players and injuries, we still managed to get a good amount of points.

“We want to keep the gap on the top teams as narrow as possible ahead of the start of the Championship Pool but we must also improve our results against the leading teams.”

Woods is not expecting an easy ride against Ħamrun. “Every game is difficult, especially against teams like Ħamrun who have been through a bad phase but are still in with a chance of qualifying for the Championship Pool,” the former St George’s coach said.

“The first round match against them was very tough and this will be no different.”

Last Saturday, Floriana dropped their first points in four matches after being held to a goalless draw by Sliema Wanderers.

“In my opinion, it was a point gained,” Woods said. “The performance was not good but let’s not forget that we lost to Sliema in the first round.”

First round: Floriana vs Ħamrun Spartans 1-0.

Embattled Birkirkara without suspended trio, Xuereb joins Hibs absentees

Birkirkara vs Mqabba (today at 6 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Birkirkara will be without three key players for their must-win game against Mqabba.

Brazilian defender Rodrigo Pereira, midfielder Andrew Decesare and Spanish forward Moises Avila Perez are ruled out by suspension.

On the plus side, Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, is buoyed by the return of midfielders Paul Fenech and Shawn Bajada who missed the 5-0 defeat to Hibs through suspension.

Mqabba coach Clive Mizzi is without midfielder Rene Duca who faces another two weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury.

First-choice goalkeeper Kris Calleja is expected to recover from a cold.

First round: Mqabba vs Birkirkara 2-2.

Balzan Youths vs Hibs (today at 8.15 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).

Hibs coach Mark Miller has a tough job to pick his starting formation as he has several regular players missing.

Brazilian striker Marcelo Dias is out as he begins a two-match ban while his Brazilian compatriot Rodolfo Soares is a major doubt because of illness.

Defender Aaron Xuereb is unavailable while Diego Balbinot (quad) and Adrian Pulis (hamstring) are still out. Striker Peter Anizoba is doubtful with a knee injury.

Balzan will be without Serbian midfielder Nikola Tasic who has been ruled out for a month after damaging his ankle ligaments in the 1-0 defeat to Mosta. Clifton Ciantar is doubtful with an ankle problem.

First round: Hibs vs Balzan 3-1.

Tarxien Rainbows vs Qormi (tomorrow at 2 p.m., National Stadium).

Brazilian striker Daniel Mariano Bueno and defender Stefan Giglio will again be absent for Tarxien.

Bueno is set to undergo a knee cartilage operation while Giglio is recovering from a hamstring injury. Carl Sammut is suspended for the Rainbows but Ryan Mintoff is set to return after recovering from a knee injury.

Qormi coach Stephen Azzopardi welcomes back defender Roderick Sammut who missed the 4-1 defeat to Valletta through suspension while striker Abubakar Bello-Osagie has shaken off a hamstring injury.

Joseph Farrugia is the only concern, as the Qormi captain is still recovering from a calf injury.

First round: Qormi vs Tarxien 4-1.

Valletta vs Mosta (tomorrow at 4 p.m., National Stadium).

Defender Steve Borg can’t line up against Mosta, his former team, after receiving a one-match ban for four yellow cards in midweek.

The champions could also be without striker Michael Mifsud and winger Dyson Falzon who are rated as highly doubtful with ankle problems.

Mosta will have to make do without four first-team players for their match against the leaders.

Forward Ian Zammit will not face his parent club as he must serve a one-match ban while defender Bryan Agius is also suspended. Flank defender Luca Martinelli is out with a foot problem and striker Gilbert Martin is still nursing a hamstring injury.

First round: Mosta vs Valletta 0-3

Marsaxlokk vs Sliema (Sunday at 4 p.m., Hibs Stadium).

Sliema coach Danilo Doncic is buoyed by the return of a host of key players as he looks to steer his team back to winning ways.

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza has recovered from a minor operation while Beppe Muscat has overcome a knee injury.

Clifford Gatt Baldacchino is unlikely to be in the squad as he has just resumed training following a knee injury.

Strugglers Marsaxlokk will be without skipper Carlo Mamo, suspended, while Jonathan Xerri is doubtful with groin trouble.

First round: Sliema Wanderers vs Marsaxlokk 2-2.

Division One Fixtures

Today (Centenary Stadium 6 p.m. St Andrews vs Piet 8 p.m. Dingli vs St Patrick.