Sliema face rivals Neptunes in today’s main match. The Blues are under pressure to revive their title chances. Photo: Chris Sant FournierSliema face rivals Neptunes in today’s main match. The Blues are under pressure to revive their title chances. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate hope to draw inspiration from new coach Dejan Milakovic as they look to revive their fading title hopes when taking on rivals and defending champions Neptunes Grimaldi this evening at the National Pool.

On Friday, the Blues announced the appointment of Serbian Milakovic as their first-team coach after the club parted with Paul Privitera.

Milakovic, who served as assistant coach to Igor Milanovic at European champions Pro Recco last season, has a tough job on his hands to turn Sliema’s fortunes around.

The Blues are on the brink of slipping out of this season’s title reckoning as they trail joint-leaders Neptunes and San Ġiljan Crystal Finance Investments, whom they meet in their remaining opening phase matches, by eight points after eight games played.

Sliema had the better of Neptunes 12-11 in the curtain-raising President’s Cup final but the Balluta Bay outfit avenged that upset after overcoming the Blues in the corresponding first-round fixture, 9-8 the scoreline.

San Ġiljan will surely be rooting for a Sliema victory as that would enable them to take sole leadership of the Premier Division, provided they see off Sirens Ritter Sport in today’s second game.

The Saints, led by coach Marko Orlovic, are unlikely to underestimate the threat posed by the St Paul’s Bay outfit. Earlier this season, San Ġiljan were pushed all the way by Sirens before grinding out a 9-8 victory.

Today’s three-match programme gets under way at 16.45 when top-flight minnows Exiles Ferretti meet Valletta McDonald’s.

Valletta have six points after winning two of their opening eight games while Exiles are still without a point.

Premier League

  P W D L F A Pts
Neptunes 8 7 0 1 99 60 21
San Giljan 8 7 0 1 98 71 21
Sliema 8 4 1 3 95 81 13
Sirens 8 3 1 4 85 82 10
Valletta 8 2 0 6 70 102 6
Exiles 8 0 0 8 70 121 0

Today’s fixtures
Premier Division: 16.45 Exiles Ferretti vs Valletta McDonald’s; 18.00 San Ġiljan Crystal Finance Investments vs Sirens Ritter Sport; 19.15 Neptunes Grimaldi vs Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate.

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