Imperious last season, Hibernians have endured a somewhat up-and-down start to their title defence but are nonetheless in a strong position to challenge as the leading seven teams in this keenly-contested championship are separated by only five points after 11 games.

Leading the way, albeit by a single point, are Balzan who have had a few wobbles of their own in the last four weeks, losing two games in a row against Floriana and Birkirkara, before hitting back with a 1-0 win over Sliema Wanderers before the international break.

Oliver Spiteri, the coach of Balzan, is bracing himself for a tough encounter but believes that his team can also make life uneasy for the champions on Sunday.

“Hibs have only won two of their last six games but they have recovered some key players and I’m sure that they are doing their homework well,” Spiteri told Times of Malta.

“It will be a difficult match for us.

“I have a lot of respect for Hibs because their Maltese and foreign players are strong and they have a very good coach (Branko Nisevic) who has been working with this squad for three years.

“That said, I’m sure Hibs will be thinking the same about us. I hope that we make it hard for them.”

Spiteri believes that the international break has come at the right time for Balzan as a host of key players have recovered from injuries.

“When you’re winning, it is often said that a break is not good but I believe that the recent stop has helped us,” Spiteri said.

“In our last game against Sliema, we had four to five players out with injuries while some played with fever. This showed during the match as the pace was slow.”

Right-back Justin Grioli, Nigerian forward Godwin Mensha and Italian goalkeeper Valerio Senatore are back in the frame for Balzan but Montenegrin striker Bojan Kaljevic and midfielder Ryan Fenech are still sidelined.

Fenech has yet to make his first league appearance for Balzan since his close-season switch from Valletta but the Malta international is working his way back to fitness after undergoing surgery in Germany to cure a hernia problem.

After ending the first round at the top of the table, Balzan are now widely regarded as genuine contenders for the Premier League title but their biggest challenge lies in maintaining their consistency in face of stronger competition from the other candidates.

“After our performances last season, the respect for Balzan has grown,” Spiteri said.

“Nowadays, no team plays with three strikers against Balzan as they used to in the past.

“After the first four games this season, we gave a clear indication that we have improved from last year.

“Our team is playing better, especially when we don’t have the ball. This is very encouraging for me, moreso when considering the fact that we have changed four foreigners in the close season.

“I believe that we can only improve in the coming months but the same goes for the other teams.”

Nisevic, the Hibs coach, has high hopes that his players will hit their stride in the second round, adding that victory over a title rival would represent a bold statement of intent.

“Balzan are top of the league,” Nisevic said.

“The gap is only one point but they are the leaders and you have to look at Balzan that way.

“They had a very good first round. Balzan have a really strong squad and they have clearly made a step forward compared to last season.

“They are one of five potential candidates for the title. A win against a direct rival enhances confidence, sometimes it’s worth more than the three points.”

Like his Balzan counterpart, Nisevic is convinced that the international break was helpful for Hibs.

“Our Maltese players were only involved in one game whereas normally they play two matches during an international break,” the Serbian coach remarked.

“In this context, the break was beneficial for us.

“Rui Da Gracia Gomes was the only player who played two games (for Equatorial Guinea) but I believe that he will be ready.

“The recent pause also helped Jorginho to complete his recovery from injury.”

Jorginho is in line for a squad recall on Sunday but fellow Brazilian countryman Rodolfo Soares is still out with a hamstring injury.

In light of their supremacy last season, Hibernians have come under mounting pressure this term after losing one and drawing four of their opening 11 matches.

Nisevic insisted that the increase in the number of playing foreigners from five to seven has changed the complexion of the Premier League.

“This year’s championship is a lot more balanced because with seven foreign players, the gap between the teams has diminished significantly,” Nisevic said.

“There has not been an outstanding team in the first round as all the leading five clubs have been through a bad patch.”

First round: Hibs vs Balzan 1-1.

Current standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Balzan	11	7	2	2	17	9	23
Valletta	11	7	1	3	19	11	22
Birkirkara	11	6	4	1	26	10	22
Hibernians	11	6	4	1	19	12	22
Floriana	11	6	2	3	18	11	20
Tarxien	11	5	4	2	18	9	19
Mosta	11	5	3	3	17	12	18
Sliema	11	4	2	5	9	14	14
Pembroke	11	4	1	6	18	22	13
Naxxar Lions	11	2	1	8	9	28	7
Qormi	11	1	2	8	9	18	5
St Andrew’s	11	0	0	11	6	29	0

Fixtures (Tedesco Stadium)
Today: 18.00 Tarxien vs Sliema; 20.15 Valletta vs St Andrew’s.
Tomorrow: 14.00 Pembroke vs Qormi; 16.15 Naxxar Lions vs Birkirkara.
Sunday: 14.00 Mosta vs Floriana; 16.15 Hbernians vs Balzan.