All set for decisive play-offs

Seven weeks during which 28 matches were played in the round-robin phase of this year’s BOV Winter League will now be followed by a series of play-offs to determine the destination of the title as well as the final rankings in the table.

There will be three matches today, with the first between Sirens and Marsascala for fifth place.

It will be followed by two semi-final ties, the Balluta Bay clash between Neptunes and San Ġiljan and the derby between Sliema and Exiles.

The winners of these semi-finals will proceed to the final to be played on a best-of-three basis scheduled between May 4 and 8.

The match for third place is programmed for tomorrow week.

The fare provided so far has been understandably approximative considering the early months of the year and the teams’ readiness to draft in young talented players.

However, it is anticipated that the jets will be turned on at this final stage of the 18th winter competition as the competition re-sumes at the National Pool.

Neptunes will be after their eighth title, Sliema their seventh, with San Ġiljan and Exiles eyeing their second and first success respectively. These targets will certainly whip up interest among the teams and their supporters.

That will make for keen tussles which should be a fitting prelude to the National League due to start in June.