Pietà Hotspurs vs Żebbuġ Rangers (today at 15.00, Hibs Stadium).

A must-win game for the two promoted sides.

Only two points separate Pietà Hotspurs and bottom side Żebbuġ Rangers who are still without a win after eight league games.

The Hotspurs, who have five points, are coming from two positive results, a 2-1 win over champions Valletta and a 1-1 draw against Balzan.

Coach Noel Coleiro is beset by the absence of three key players, Argentine forward Claudio Frances, Brazilian defender Leonardo Fortunato and Terence Agius.

On the plus side, Brazilian striker Rafael Xavier returns from suspension and forward Malcolm Licari is expected to make the squad after recovering from injury.

Żebbuġ did well to fight back in a 3-3 draw with Naxxar Lions after going 3-1 down.

Jesmond Zammit has no injury problems but Clifford Gauci and Javier Diaz Serrano are suspended.

Qormi vs Tarxien Rainbows (today at 15.00, Tedesco Stadium).

An intriguing clash between two improving teams.

Tarxien, who have taken four points from their last two matches, are one point ahead of Qormi who are buoyed by back-to-back wins.

The Rainbows are decimated by injuries and suspensions. Brazilian striker Wesley, defender Owen Bugeja and midfielder Matthew Tabone must serve a one-match ban.

Goalkeeper Jonathan Debono is out until December with a tendon injury.

Tarxien coach Clive Mizzi also has concerns about midfielder Triston Caruana (knee), Firas Aboulezz (back), Jorge (ankle) and Manuel Caruana (hamstring).

Qormi coach Josef Mansueto was due to assess Emerson Vella’s condition during training yesterday evening. Nigerian Frank Temile is available after suspension kept him out of the 4-2 win over Floriana.

Floriana vs Mosta (today at 17.15, Tedesco Stadium).

Floriana and Mosta are desperate for a win after a disappointing run of results.

The Greens have not won in their last four games, losing 4-2 to Qormi last weekend, while Mosta are coming from three consecutive defeats.

Senegalese forward Amadou Samb is back from suspension for Floriana.

Mosta coach Enrico Piccioni has lost left-back Dyson Falzon to injury but goalkeeper Omar Borg is set to return after completing his recovery from a groin problem.

Valletta vs Naxxar Lions (tomorrow at 15.00, Tedesco Stadium).

The pressure is on for champions Valletta after their defeat to Birkirkara, their fourth in eight games, left them 12 points behind leaders Hibernians.

Naxxar Lions’ situation is also anything but rosy as they are second-from-bottom in the table with four points.

Valletta coaches Gilbert Agius and Ivan Zammit are likely to make significant changes from the 2-0 loss to Birkirkara.

Defender Luke Dimech is suspended and Brazilian winger Alex Terra is out injured.

Australian winger Adrian Zahra could return after missing the last game.

Jesmond Zerafa, the former Valletta mentor who earlier this month replaced Winston Muscat as Naxxar coach, will have to make do without defender Andrew Scicluna, suspended.

Argentine Pablo Doffo is also likely to miss out as he has not fully recovered from injury.

Angus Buhagiar is available after seeing out his two-match ban.

Sliema Wanderers vs Balzan (tomorrow at 17.15, Tedesco Stadium).

Balzan, third on 15 points, will be wary of the threat posed by Sliema Wanderers.

While the Reds failed to shine in a 1-1 draw against Pietà, Sliema produced an emphatic perfor-mance as they trounced Mosta 4-1 despite playing the entire second half with 10 men.

For Balzan, Italian striker Gianmarco Piccioni and Lydon Micallef have been down with flu but otherwise coach Oliver Spiteri has no selection problems.

Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi, who enjoyed a perfect debut last weekend, has a shortage of defenders as Clifford Gatt Baldacchino is suspended and Italian centre-half Stefano Bianciardi is injured.

Midfielder Paltemio Barbetti is doubtful with a muscular problem but striker Michael Mifsud is in line to return after recovering from gastric flu which forced him to miss the Mosta game.

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