The struggle to avoid relegation from the BOV Premier League at the end of the season is developing into one of the tightest in many a year.
At present, half the teams in the top-flight are engaged in this uneasy tussle with just three points separating seventh-placed Naxxar Lions (14) from bottom-placed Tarxien Rainbows (11).
This scenario becomes even more complicated considering that the third-bottom team in the final standings will have to figure in a play-off against the third-placed side in Division One to retain their status next season.
Two teams from the bottom half of the standings will go head-to-head at the Hibs Stadium tomorrow as Naxxar take on Qormi (kick-off: 2pm).
Both teams come into this match in good spirits as the Lions, fresh from their come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Żebbuġ Rangers, will be looking to make it two wins in a row to try and distance themselves from the bottom three slots.
Qormi, too, are brimming with confidence after finally ending a four-month win drought with a 3-1 victory over Mosta.
Jesmond Zerafa, the Naxxar coach, reckons his team’s next match to be another crucial test.
“This is another massive match for our hopes to stave off the relegation threat,” Zerafa told Times of Malta.
“If Naxxar are to survive we must win as many matches as possible against direct rivals in particular. So, beating Qormi could give us another push towards reaching our objective.
“I’m expecting a very difficult match as in the last few weeks Qormi have shown a lot of progress.
“This week, we made sure that we approach the match with the right level of concentration to carry out our tactical plan to perfection if possible.”
Zerafa can bank on an almost full squad as midfielder David Fenech is the only absentee due to a knee injury.
The Lions’ mentor said he was encouraged by the form of his players in recent weeks and hopes they can maintain their momentum against the club he led to a trophy final in 2010.
“Our performances in the last few weeks were positive,” he said.
“Although we lost against Bir-kirkara and Balzan the team produced a very good showing and with a little bit more luck we could have easily avoided defeat.
“Consistency is a key factor at this stage of the season. There’s little difference between the teams fighting to avoid the drop.”
Victory over Mosta came at the right moment for Qormi.
“That victory was a huge shot in the arm for us,” coach Mark Miller said.
“After almost five months without a win, the team was low in confidence and surely that victory was a huge breather for all of us.
“But there’s more matches to go. I told my players that we have eight other finals coming up, starting this weekend.
“Naxxar have some excellent attacking players like Gilmar and Jorge and that makes us more wary that we have to be alert all match if we are to gain more points.”
The Qormi coach said that this is no new situation for him having experienced a battle against the drop with Hibs a few years back.
“I have good memory of the struggles the coach and players go through in such situations, having gone through the same story with Hibs not long ago,” Miller said.
“At that time, we were introducing young players as Hibernians were assembling a new squad... a similar case to what we have at Qormi at the moment.
“I know that each match will be difficult to win but the players have been showing determination and work ethic during training and that is showing in our weekend matches.”
For this match, Miller is hampered by the absence of the leading club scorer Alfred Effiong.
The striker with Maltese passport must serve a one-match ban.