Naxxar Lions vs Floriana (today at 4pm, Hibs Stadium).
With the relegation battle sure to go down to the wire, Naxxar Lions and Floriana will be going all out to bolster their survival hopes by taking three points from their direct encounter.
It has been a tumultuous week for Naxxar.
Dione Drago, who stepped down as club president on Wednesday, was given a 10-match touchline ban for his bad-tempered reaction after Naxxar conceded a last-gasp goal in a 1-0 defeat to Qormi last weekend.
Brazilian forward Gilmar, sent off for two cautions in the Qormi match, goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi (four yellow cards) and Argentine defender David Alejandro Reano (no medical certificate) are suspended for today’s game.
Naxxar will also be without their kit manager as Roderick Albani who was slapped with a 10-match ban for his conduct during last weekend’s game.
Floriana coach Giovanni Tedesco has no choice but to change his starting XI from the 2-0 victory over Tarxien Rainbows. Captain Gary Muir, Igor Coronado and Brooke Farrugia have been banned for one game for four yellow cards.
Midfielder Joseph Borg is in the final stages of his recovery from injury.
Previous results: Naxxar vs Floriana 1-1, 0-1, 1-1.
Tarxien Rainbows vs Rabat Ajax (today at 6pm, Hibs Stadium).
Tarxien Rainbows are back in the relegation mire after picking only one point from their last three matches.
Anything but a victory from today’s clash with demoted side Rabat Ajax would be considered a disastrous result for the Rainbows who will be without two players.
Brazilian Lucas has been banned for two matches after his red card against Floriana while Manuel Caruana has been suspended for one game after being dismissed for two yellow cards in the same game.
Only pride is at stake for Rabat after their relegation was confirmed a fortnight ago. Still, the Magpies produced a creditable performance in a 2-1 loss to Vittoriosa last weekend.
Dylan Falzon, Daniel Pelaez, who has returned to Spain after fracturing his arm, Adam Smeir and Wayne Borg are sidelined with injuries while striker Ryan Micallef is ranked as doubtful.
Previous results: Tarxien vs Rabat 0-1, 6-2, 2-0.
Vittoriosa Stars vs Qormi (today at 4pm, National Stadium).
Qormi are just one point away from securing their Premier League status but Vittoriosa Stars need a win to step up their relegation fight after resurrecting their hopes with back-to-back wins.
Italian defender Giorgio Gianola has not recovered from the injury that forced him off in the first half of the 1-0 victory over Naxxar Lions while Brazilian midfielder Gabriel is doubtful.
The return from suspension of Portuguese midfielder Filipe Aguiar and his Italian counterpart Leonardo Torri, is a fillip for Vittoriosa coach Oliver Spiteri but winger Gilbert Martin will miss out after picking up an injury.
Previous results: Vittoriosa vs Qormi 1-0, 2-1, 1-5.