Decision time for Stripes

Birkirkara will be vying for vital points this weekend to make sure of their place in the Championship Pool as they face the Premier League’s surprise pack Balzan Youths (Sunday, Hibs Stadium at 4 p.m.) in a finely-balanced match.

With only matchdays remaining to the end of the first phase of the championship, the battle for the remaining places in the elite top-six group is now at a decisive stage.

Valletta, Hibernians and Floriana are all but assured of their place but Sliema Wanderers, Balzan, Birkirkara and Qormi are engaged in a tight tussle for the remaining three slots with just four points seperating these teams.

With the background of such a tight scenario, the clash between bordering towns Birkirkara and Balzan takes huge significance as victory either way could put the winners within touching distance of reaching pre-season objectives.

The two teams approach this match in contrasting moods.

While Balzan collected 10 of the last 12 points available, Birkirkara have just two wins to show from their last four outings.

Ivan Zammit, the Balzan coach, is proud of his team’s achievements and vowed to keep up the pressure on the misfiring Stripes.

“There are many teams who wish to be in our position at this stage,” he said.

“I think it’s very encouraging for a small club like ours. We’ve achieved nothing as yet but this match could give us a clear indication where we can go this season.”

Balzan will be without new signing Jamie Pace and Renie Forace, both nursing injuries.

Birkirkara are expected to give a debut to prodigal son Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who joined from Sliema as Trevor Cilia and Andrew Decesare move the other direction.

Defender Joseph Zerafa returns after suspension but Rowen Muscat is troubled with an ankle strain.

Another barren outing will put the Stripes under immense pressure but coach Paul Zammit is hoping Mifsud Triganza will help resolve the team’s dearth of goals.

“Victory is a must on Sunday as we seriously risk missing out on the Championship Pool,” Zammit admitted.

“Balzan will be difficult to beat but we must rediscover our form quickly to get the win that puts us back in a strong position. We’ve been playing well lately but the boys are struggling to score goals.

“I think it’s a psychological problem more than anything else but Mifsud Triganza’s move came at the right time for us.”

First round: Balzan Youths vs Birkirkara 1-2.

Other matches...

Tarxien vs Sliema (today at 18.00, Tedesco Stadium).

New signings Trevor Cilia, An-drew Decesare and Nikola Bogda-novic are expected to be included in Sliema’s squad for this match.

Cilia and Decesare joined the Wanderers from Birkirkara last week. Bogdanovic joined from Mosta.

Sliema’s Danail Mitev must serve the second of a two-match ban and midfielder Ryan Grech is sidelined with a pulled hamstring. Steve Bezzina is also doubtful but midfielders Ryan Fenech and Mark Scerri are expected to return.

Relegation strugglers Tarxien are boosted by the return of Ricardo Costa and Karl Pulo but Steve Sadowski is banned.

First round: Sliema Wanderers-Tarxien 3-0.

Qormi vs Hibs (today at 20.15, Tedesco Stadium).

Qormi need a win to bolster their flailing top-six hopes but they face a massive task tonight as they meet the in-form Hibs.

Qormi are expected to give a debut to defender Vincent Kouadio.

Jorginho is suspended and Kenneth Scicluna doubtful with a thigh injury.

Hibs coach Mark Miller is not expected to make significant changes from the team that swept Ħamrun aside last Sunday.

First round: Hibs-Qormi 4-0.

Floriana vs Mosta (tomorrow at 14.00, National Stadium).

Floriana and Mosta will be aiming to extend their positive run.

Michael Woods, the Floriana coach, is expected to confirm the 11 players who started the 1-0 defeat of Birkirkara.

Togo defender Eric Akoto is out as he has yet to complete his two-match ban while Nigerian forward Onome Sodje is sidelined with a wrist injury.

Malcolm Licari is doubtful with an adductor injury. During the week, Floriana acquired Alessio Restuccia, an Italian flank defender who could make the squad tomorrow.

Mosta, now on 17 points after a string of good results, were one of the most active sides in last month’s transfer window.

Terence Vella, signed on loan from Birkirkara, will make his debut against the Greens. His arrival softens the blow caused by the injury to Dyson Falzon, another loan signing, who will be out six weeks after fracturing two ribs in a 1-0 win over Qormi.

Striker Gilbert Martin is fully fit but Luca Martinelli is doubtful after picking up a knock.

First round: Floriana-Mosta 3-2.

Valletta vs Marsaxlokk (tomorrow at 16.00, National Stadium).

Valletta are tipped to return to winning ways at the expense of bottom team Marsa-xlokk.

The champions, held to a goalless draw by Sliema in their last outing, are set to hand a debut to Saidou Mady Panadetiguiri as the Burkina Faso defender was due to return last night from the Africa Cup.

Gilbert Agius and midfielder Nahuel Pulitano Jimenez are struggling with slight injuries. Italian defender Andrea Scozzese has re-sumed training but it remains to be seen whether he will be registered in time for this match.

Marsaxlokk failed to halt their losing sequence last week after going down to Balzan.

They will have two new foreigners for this match – Brazilian striker Alex Pedrosa and Serbian midfielder Ivan Kurtesic. Sasha Borg is out with a strained leg muscle.

First round: Valletta-Marsaxlokk 2-0.

Ħamrun Spartans vs Mqabba (Sunday at 14.00, Hibs Stadium).

This is a direct clash between two teams fighting it out to avoid the bottom places.

Only a victory will do for Ħamrun after a 5-0 rout to Hibs left them lying third bottom as Mqabba will look to maintain their gap on most of their relegation rivals.

Gianluca Calabretta returns for the Reds after sus-pension.

Mqabba strengthened their midfield with the loan signing of David Fenech from Balzan.

Brazilian forward Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli is fit after shaking off a calf problem while Serbian striker Bojan Mamic is in line for a return after hamstring trouble.

First round: Ħamrun Spartans-Mqabba 3-2.

Division one

Today: (Centenary Stadium) 6 p.m. Rabat vs St George’s; 8 p.m. St Andrew’s vs Dingli.