Floriana and Qormi will be aiming to put their top-six bid back on track when they meet in today’s second match at the Tedesco Stadium.
As in the past few seasons, the race for Championship Pool football promises to be tight and fiercely-contested, moreso as the bulk of the teams outside the top-four zone appear to be on a par.
The Greens currently lie sixth on eight points but with a fragile one-point lead over Tarxien Rainbows, in seventh, and two ahead of Qormi and Ħamrun Spartans.
Like most of their rivals, Floriana and Qormi have endured a stop-start campaign so far and are desperate to get back on the winning trail after losing their last match.
Qormi threw away a one-goal lead in their 2-1 defeat to Balzan while Floriana succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to in-form Mosta.
Midfielder Triston Caruana is still recovering from knee surgery but otherwise, Qormi coach Stephen Azzopardi has a full squad at his disposal.
Floriana’s hopes of finding some sort of stability following a troubled pre-season haven’t been helped by the lingering doubts over the position of head coach Mark Wright.
The former England and Liverpool defender has been away for the last three to four weeks, triggering speculation that he may have quit the club after only two games in charge.
In Wright’s absence, Alan Lewer has been in charge of first-team affairs at Floriana and, despite the difficult circumstances, the English coach has been doing his utmost to get the best out of his players.
Lewer’s task has been undermined by injuries and suspensions. For today’s match, Lewer is without defenders Aaron Brown and Kane Farrugia, both suspended.
Midfielder Thomas Paris resumed training on Wednesday as he continues his recovery from injury while young goalkeeper Juergen Borg is sidelined with an elbow problem.
In today’s opening game, Ħamrun Spartans harbour high hopes of claiming back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they take on strugglers Rabat Ajax.
Stefan Sultana, the Ħamrun coach, is expected to pick the same team that started last Friday’s 3-1 win over Melita. Midfielder Christian Cassar, signed from Floriana in the close season, is nearing the end of his recovery from a cruciate operation.
Rabat Ajax’s 2-0 loss to Sliema Wanderers left them without a win in their opening six games. Coach Silvio Vella is facing a defensive crisis as Clive Brincat, sent off against the Blues last weekend, and Patrick Borg are both suspended.
Meanwhile, the Malta FA announced yesterday that officials from Northern Ireland will officiate two Premier League matches this weekend under the referee exchange agreement with the Irish FA.
Raymond Crangle will control tomorrow’s top-flight game between Sliema and Hibs.
David Anderson and Andrew Stevenson will be the assistant referees with Andrew Davey acting as fourth official.
Davey will swap roles with Crangle for Sunday’s match between Balzan and Melita.
Programme
Today (Tedesco Stadium 18.00 Ħamrun Spartans vs Rabat Ajax; 20.15 Floriana vs Qormi.
Tomorrow (National Stadium 15.00 Sliema Wanderers vs Hibs; 17.00 Birkirkara vs Valletta.
Sunday (National Stadium 15.00 Balzan vs Melita; 17.00 Tarxien Rainbows vs Mosta.
Division One
Today (Centenary Stadium 18.00 Gżira United vs Gudja United; 20.00 Marsaxlokk vs Pietà Hotspurs.