Qormi are still searching for their first win under coach Johann Scicluna while Mosta will be seeking to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to Floriana in their last outing.
Scicluna, the Qormi coach, was due to check on the condition of Billy Berntsson yesterday evening as the Swedish defender is struggling with a calf problem.
Striker Terence Vella was yesterday due to have an operation on his injured knee.
Nigerian midfielder Hassan Yau returns for Mosta after serving a one-match ban in the Floriana game.
First round: Mosta vs Qormi 1-0.
New foreigners for Naxxar Lions
Naxxar Lions coach Clive Mizzi will have been heartened by his team’s resilience in clawing back a two-goal deficit against Birkirkara despite being down to 10 men.
Angus Buhagiar, who saw red against the Stripes, and defender Moise Gnenegbe are suspended for today’s clash with Balzan.
Naxxar could have two new foreigners, Spanish left-back Jose Angel Godar and Italian midfielder Thomas Sarina, in their squad tonight if they manage to sort out their registration paperwork.
Godar played under Mizzi at Tarxien last season.
Three defeats in their last four games have jolted Balzan’s early-season momentum. Oliver Spiteri, the Balzan coach, has no fresh injury problems apart from long-term absentees Bojan Kaljevic (ankle) and Ryan Fenech (hernia).
First round: Balzan vs Naxxar 2-0.
Key players back for Valletta
Back to the top of the table after Balzan’s loss to Hibs, Valletta will be going all out to secure the three points when they meet Sliema Wanderers.
Valletta, who thumped St Andrew’s 4-0 in their last game, are buoyed by the return of five key players.
Captain Jonathan Caruana and Brazilian Jhonnattann (picture) are back from injury while Argentine striker Federico Falcone and midfielder Llywelyn Cremona return from suspension.
Goalkeeper Henry Bonello is also in line to reclaim his no.1 shirt after injury kept him out of the St Andrew’s win.
Sliema, who went down 3-2 to Tarxien in their last outing, are without the suspended Pedrinho. Johann Bezzina is expected to miss out due to a hamstring injury and Mark Scerri will undergo a late fitness test.
Brazilian playmaker Rafael Ledesma has recovered from injury.
First round: Valletta vs Sliema 1-0.
St Andrew’s-Pembroke derby clash
Josè Borg has been tasked with overseeing St Andrew’s preparations for their derby against Pembroke tonight after taking charge of the team on an interim basis following the resignation of Wayne Attard.
St Andrew’s hopes of breaking their duck are boosted by the return of veteran midfielder Joseph Farrugia and Dale Camilleri, who missed the 4-0 rout to Valletta through injury.
Striker Kyrian Nwoko is still out of the equation after injuring his adductor while playing for the Malta U-19 side.
While St Andrew’s are still without a point, Premier League newcomers Pembroke have picked up 14 from 12 games.
Captain Zoran Levnaic is likely to reclaim his place in the heart of Pembroke’s defence after flu kept him out of the 0-0 draw against Qormi.
First round: Pembroke vs St Andrew’s 4-3.
Paixao to play despite brother’s murder
News that the brother of Brazilian full-back Alex Alves Paixao (left) has been shot dead in his homeland has cast a shadow over Tarxien’s preparations for their clash with Birkirkara.
The grieving Paixao has made himself available to play while Tarxien’s request to wear black armbands has been accepted by the MFA.
Jacques Scerri, the Tarxien coach, admitted that news that Paixao’s brother had been killed in Brazil came as a shock for the entire squad.
“I learned about the death of Alex’s brother on Saturday afternoon, half-an-hour before training,” Scerri said. “We are all shocked because our squad is very united and everyone is sad for Alex.”
Defender Ebiabowei Baker starts a two-match ban for Tarxien.
Birkirkara find themselves under rising pressure to show their true worth after throwing away a 2-0 lead in their draw against Naxxar.
Coach Giovanni Tedesco can’t send out his strongest team as striker Fabrizio Miccoli has not recovered from a calf injury and Paul Fenech, who missed the Naxxar game through suspension, has a thigh problem.
Left-back Joseph Zerafa returns after serving a one-match ban.
First round: Birkirkara vs Tarxien 2-2.