Naxxar Lions vs Hibernians (today at 2pm, Hibs Stadium).

Winston Muscat’s Naxxar have no option but to beat Hibernians and hope Balzan slip up against Valletta to take the last available slot in the Championship Pool.

The Lions cannot field their strongest formation as defender Andrew Decesare and Brazilian midfielder Gilmar are both ruled out with a one-match ban.

Hibs cannot afford to drop points if they are to keep the pace with front-runners Birkirkara and Valletta.

They are expected to give new defender Igor Radusinovic, of Montenegro, his debut.

Bjorn Kristensen is back after serving a two-match ban while striker Andrew Cohen is expected to make the squad after completing his rehabilitation this week.

Brandon Muscat is out with an ankle injury while Zoran Levnaic and Clayton Failla are suspended.

First round: Hibernians vs Naxxar Lions 4-1.

Vittoriosa Stars vs Birkirkara (today at 4pm, Hibs Stadium).

Birkirkara will be all out to put last weekend’s defeat to rivals Valletta behind them with victory over Vittoriosa Stars.

The upset to the Citizens brought to an end an impressive 13-match winning run for the Stripes but coach Paul Zammit will demand an immediate response as the champions look to end the opening phase on a positive note.

Zammit is still without winger Edward Herrera, injured, but has no other selection problems.

Joseph Zerafa returns from suspension.

Oliver Spiteri, the Vittoriosa coach, returns to the dug-out after serving a two-match ban. He is expected to hand a start to his latest recruit, Italian defender Leonardo Torri, formerly of Livorno. Winger Gilbert Martin is suspended.

First round: Birkirkara vs Vittoriosa 2-0.

Rabat Ajax vs Sliema Wanderers (today at 4.15pm, Tedesco Stadium).

Sliema will fancy their chances of making it four wins in a row when they take on bottom-placed Rabat.

The Wanderers have been in hot form lately, netting nine goals in their last three matches and coach Alfonso Greco will hope his team can carry the momentum into the Championship Pool.

The Italian mentor must effect three changes from the team that beat Floriana 4-1 on Monday as Mark Scerri, John Mintoff and Paltemio Barbetti are all suspended.

Striker Abubakar Bello-Osagie is out with knee trouble.

Rabat have been struggling for results, picking up just one point from their last seven matches.

Coach Steve D’Amato has lost Aidan Azzopardi who joins Daniel Pelaez and Adam Smeir in the treatment room.

First round: Sliema vs Rabat 4-1.

Tarxien Rainbows vs Mosta (tomorrow at 2pm, National Stadium).

Mosta and Tarxien will be hunting valuable points for different reasons.

Mosta have already secured a top-six finish but coach Enrico Piccioni is demanding another committed display from his players as they look to start their Championship Pool trek in a good position to challenge for a place in Europe.

Prolific scorer Gianmarco Piccioni is back for Mosta but Manolito Micallef is suspended.

Tarxien are in desperate need of points as one win from their last nine matches has left them facing a tough fight to avoid the drop.

Their cause has been boosted by the news that Brazilian striker Daniel Mariano Bueno has agreed to return to the club and put pen to paper on a two-year contract while fellow Brazilian midfielder Lucas Goncalves da Silva is also in line to make his debut after his clearance arrived yesterday.

Winger Luca Martinelli is out with a pulled hamstring while Carlos Hevia is suspended.

First round: Mosta vs Tarxien 2-2.

Qormi vs Floriana (tomorrow at 4pm, National Stadium).

This match brings together two teams going through a bad patch.

Second-bottom Qormi have only one win to show from their last seven matches and desperately need the three points to move away from the bottom places.

Coach Karel Zeman is likely to keep faith with the players that produced a battling display in the 5-3 defeat to Hibernians on Monday as he has a full squad at his disposal.

Floriana, too, had little to smile about this year as five successive defeats spelt the end of their top-six hopes while in midweek, Steve Vaughan Jr announced that he had resigned from club president.

Ian Dawes, the Floriana coach, can bank on a full squad.

First round: Floriana vs Qormi 3-0.

Current standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	21	17	2	2	47	18	53
Valletta	21	16	2	3	51	14	50
Hibernians	21	14	2	5	54	27	44
Sliema W.	21	11	7	3	41	23	40
Mosta	21	11	2	8	43	35	35
Balzan	21	8	4	9	24	30	28
Naxxar Lions	21	8	3	10	27	36	27
Floriana (-6)	21	8	3	10	28	34	21
Vittoriosa S.	21	5	3	13	23	43	18
Tarxien R.	21	4	4	13	27	45	16
Qormi	21	4	3	14	26	43	15
Rabat Ajax	21	1	3	17	16	59	6