Żebbuġ Rangers vs Balzan (today at 2pm, Hibs Stadium).
Żebbuġ Rangers are still without a victory after 11 games while Balzan’s back-to-back defeats to Valletta and Hibernians extended their winless run to five matches.
Alfonso Greco, Żebbuġ’s Italian coach, used the international break to work on the team’s fitness and tactical organisation.
The Rangers are looking to sign a foreign defender after Spaniard Javier Diaz Serrano cancelled his contract with the club for personal reasons.
Midfielder Thomas Paris is suspended after his sending-off in the 2-0 defeat to Valletta.
Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri must make do without defender Clive Brincat and mid-fielder Luke Sciberras, both suspended.
On the plus side, Ice Cream Osa Guobadia and Justin Grioli return after serving a one-match ban in the 3-0 defeat to Hibs.
First round: Balzan vs Żebbuġ 4-2.
Pietà Hotspurs vs Birkirkara (today at 2pm, Tedesco Stadium).
Only a win will do for Birkirkara after their 2-1 defeat to Floriana left them 10 points off the title pace.
Although the Stripes are favourites to collect the three points, they are unlikely to take Pietà Hotspurs lightly, moreso after the latter stunned champions Valletta in the first round.
Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, must make one change in midfield as Ryan Scicluna is suspended. Scicluna also had to withdraw from Malta’s squad for last weekend’s Euro 2016 qualifier due to injury.
Brazilian Rafael Ledesma is back in the frame after completing a one-match ban.
Pietà are expected to be at full strength with Dylon Agius set to return after suspension kept him out of the draw against Qormi.
Ricardo Costa has informed Pietà that he is willing to rejoin them in January. The Brazilian midfielder had signed a contract to stay with the Hotspurs for another season but returned to Brazil for family reasons.
Costa has a very good relationship with coach Noel Coleiro who was also his mentor during his Tarxien days.
First round: Birkirkara vs Pietà 2-1.
Sliema Wanderers vs Tarxien Rainbows (today at 4.15pm, Tedesco Stadium).
There is pressure on both teams to get back to winning form after emerging empty-handed from their last outings.
Sliema went down 1-0 to Naxxar Lions while Tarxien lost 2-1 to Mosta.
Stephen Azzopardi, the Sliema coach, is short of options in defence and central midfield as no fewer than six players are set to miss today’s clash.
Italian defender Andrea Scozzese and midfielder Paltemio Barbetti are out after being handed a one-match ban.
Central defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino (quad), Italian midfielder Andrea Pisanu (knee) and Serbian Marko Potezica (hamstring), who usually plays in front of defence, are sidelined with injuries.
Captain Alex Muscat is still recuperating from cruciate surgery.
Tarxien midfielder Firas Aboulezz has a back problem but otherwise coach Clive Mizzi can bank on a full squad.
First round: Sliema vs Tarxien 1-1.
Naxxar Lions vs Qormi (tomorrow at 2pm, National Stadium).
Buoyed by two consecutive wins, Naxxar Lions will be aiming to maintain their resurgence when they meet Qormi who drew their last two games after a three-match winning run had propelled them up the table.
Jesmond Zerafa, the Naxxar Lions coach, is not expected to make many changes from the 1-0 win over Sliema.
Midfielder Mattia Del Negro is in line for a recall after injury kept him out of the last game.
David Fenech and Uzeh Edafe are still on the casualty list while Brazilian midfielder Sidney, who has been hampered by injuries since joining the Lions in the summer, has been released.
The Lions are expected to sign a couple of new foreigners in the January transfer window.
Qormi coach Josef Mansueto is hopeful of having a full squad at his disposal.
Serbian defender Zoran Levnaic is available after missing the goalless draw against Pietà through suspension and playmaker Joseph Chetcuti has shaken off the knock he suffered in the derby against Żebbuġ.
First round: Naxxar vs Qormi 0-1.
Valletta vs Mosta (tomorrow at 4pm, National Stadium).
Having won three straight games for the first time this season, champions Valletta will be hellbent on maintaining their momentum as they seek to keep up the pressure on second-placed Birkirkara.
The champions will also be looking to make amends for their 1-0 defeat to Mosta in the first round.
Brazilian winger Alex Terra is set to miss out as he has some fitness issues.
Goalkeeper Yenz Cini is also expected to skip tomorrow’s game after rolling his ankle while playing for the Malta U-21s in Sunday’s friendly against Azerbaijan.
Peter Smith has been handed the Mosta job on a permanent basis after leading the team to a 2-1 win over Tarxien Rainbows before the international hiatus. It was Mosta’s first win after five defeats in a row.
Midfielder Ryan Grech is suspended but otherwise Smith, who has taken over from Enrico Piccioni, has no selection problems.
First round: Mosta vs Valletta 1-0.