Tough hurdle for holders Floriana

Floriana’s title defence will endure a severe test today when they take on Hibernians in the FA Trophy quarter-finals at the National Sta-dium (kick-off: 4 p.m.).

The Greens, winners of the Trophy last year following a 1-0 win over Valletta, face a huge task to keep their hopes of a 20th success alive as they face the rampant Paolites, touted heavily for major honours this season.

The last time these two teams met in the FA Trophy was in the 2006 final when Hibs claimed the honour for the seventh time (1-0, Haruna Doda) before going on to successfully defend their title the following year.

Today’s match is likely to be another keen tussle between two teams that failed to beat each other this season.

In fact, both league clashes ended in a draw, the most recent played on Saturday and finished in a goalless stalemate.

This time a winner will have to emerge to determine a semi-finalist so Michael Woods, the Floriana coach, is not giving too much importance on last week’s events.

Cup ties are completely different propositions to league games, he contends.

“This time the match has to be decided so both teams must do everything in their power to win and progress,” he told The Times.

“Last weekend, I was pleased with the team’s tactical discipline and defensive play but we were too erratic in front of goal.

“Our movement was good but that final pass left much to be desired. We need to be more effi-cient up front.”

Woods, a former Hibs and Malta defender, will have goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo in the squad after serving the first of a four-match ban in the league.

Bartolo faces a fight to regain his place in goal following the sound display of Dutch stand-in Patrick Jansen last weekend.

Striker Omone Sodje seems to have recovered from a fractured wrist and should be available for selection.

Hibs, who eliminated minnows Pembroke and Rabat in previous rounds, are sweating on the fitness of defender Jason Vandelannoite. He sustained a calf injury, while Ryan Camilleri (knee) and Peter Anizoba (hamstring) are also in doubt.

Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, is aware of the difficult match facing his team. So, he is urging his boys to show better movement, parti-cularly in attack, after they drew a blank for the first time this season last week.

Miller said: “Floriana are very organised and difficult to break down, not only for us. Last week, we struggled to create chances and it was disappointing not to score.

“The return of Kristensen is a blessing though as he will give players like Lima an opportunity to push forward more freely.

“We can certainly cause Floriana a lot of trouble but the boys needs to move the ball better and create more space for the strikers.”

The other FA Trophy quarter-finals

Pietà Hotspurs vs Qormi (today at 2 p.m., National Stadium).

Qormi face a tricky obstacle in their bid to make it to the semi-finals for the second time in the last three years when they take on giant-killers Pietà of Division One.

With their chances of making the Championship Pool still in the balance, the FA Trophy represents Qormi’s best avenue for a place in Europe.

The Yellow-Blacks, who ousted Mellieħa 5-0 in the previous round of the competition, have three regulars missing.

Dino Cachia and Aboubakar Bello-Osagie are injured and Rod-erick Sammut unavailable.

Promotion-seekers Hotspurs have already ousted top-flight duo Tarxien Rainbows and Marsaxlokk in previous rounds. However, they suffered back-to-back league defeats recently so coach Edmond Lufi will be hopeful of a change in his team’s fortunes.

Pieta striker Vincicius Da Silva is a doubt with groin trouble.

Ħamrun Spartans vs St George’s (tomorrow at 2 p.m., Hibs Stadium).

Ħamrun will fancy their chances of booking a place in the semi-finals when they take on Division One strugglers St George’s.

The appointment of Stefan Sultana as coach left a positive effect on the Spartans who are still unbeaten under the new mentor.

The Reds, who beat Dingli (3-1) and Birkirkara (3-2), are sweating on the fitness of Daniel Zerafa and Steve Bonnici.

St George’s, second bottom in the standings, have also engaged a new coach this month as Ramon Zammit replaced Demis Scerri but positive results still eluded the Blues following defeats to Melita and Birżebbuġa.

The Saints, who eliminated Mtarfa, Għargħur and Lija to reach this stage of the competition, wil be without injured defender Clint Grech as striker Jonathan Ruiz is doubtful with a sprained ankle.

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

Valletta start favourites to make it a sixth successive semi-final appearance in the FA Trophy.

Coach Jesmond Zerafa has no selection worries but will be hoping for a less dramatic tie than the previous round which saw the Citizens come back from two goals down to see off Sliema Wanderers 5-2.

Mosta will certainly be up to the challenge given the bright displays produced by the team of late with Steve D’Amato as coach.

The Blues, who beat Xewkija Tigers 3-1 in the fourth round, have been one of the most consistent sides this year and could pose a threat to last year’s beaten finalists.

Mosta defender Yannick Ossok is suspended while Federico Tisbi, Terrence Vella and Obinna Obie-fule are rated as doubtful after skipping training because of flu.

League suspensions

Roderick Sammut was suspended for two league matches yesterday following a red card in Qormi’s 3-1 defeat to Sliema last week while team-mate Joseph Chetcuti picked up a one-match ban that rules him out of the next game against Mar-saxlokk on March 3.

Sliema had no fewer than three players on the list of sanctioned players.

In fact, Ryan Fenech, Beppe Muscat and Rumen Galabov were all handed a one-match ban.

The Blues play Mosta next in the league, also on March 3.

The other player sanctioned yesterday was Rodrigo Pereira, the Birkirkara striker.

Alandson (left) tries to peg back Steve Pisani, of Hibernians.