The pressure is on Birkirkara to keep the pace with the front-runners when they take on Hibs in their final second-round game tomorrow.

A 1-0 defeat to Balzan left Birkirkara eight points off the pace but, with points being halved at the start of the third and final round, a win against the champions would haul them back into contention.

Coach Drazen Besek remains upbeat about Birkirkara’s chances of playing a meaningful role in the title race.

“For us, every game is important,” Besek told Times of Malta.

“In training, the players are working hard… they have ambition.

“I believe we can gain a good result from this game but we need to be ready to take our chances.

“On the other side, there is a good team (Hibs) who have a good coach.

“It’s not going to be easy but football is an open game. We need to do the right things in those 90 minutes.

“After this game, a new league will start for us but it’s important that we are in a good position.”

Despite recruiting a host of attacking players to replace the likes of Fabrizio Miccoli, Liliu and Juan Barraso, Birkirkara looked short of firepower in their Balzan defeat.

“In the Balzan game, we didn’t have a player who could help the team create more danger in the opponents’ box,” the Croatian reflected.

“Football is about goals. We made one mistake and lost the game.

“Our players have got quality but our biggest opponent at the moment is time because we have changed many players.

“But, we don’t want to speak about the past. We have to look ahead and I’m confident that we can fight with the top teams this season.”

Besek is under no illusion about the size of the task awaiting his team tomorrow.

“The Hibs players have been playing together for a number of years,” Besek said. “They have a coach who has good knowledge of the conditions of the Maltese league.

“Hibs also have a good leader on the pitch in Andrew Cohen and good strikers but their best quality is the harmony in their team.

“They are also very alert, especially in free-kicks and corners.

“But, I’m not preoccupied about the opposition as I prefer to focus on my team. We must play better than the last game.”

Left-back Joseph Zerafa, who missed the Balzan clash, is doubtful for Birkirkara who are still without Edward Herrera.

Hibs are still missing defender Rui Da Gracia Gomes and left-back Clayton Failla but Jonathan Pearson and Gilmar are back in the frame after serving a one-match ban.

Cohen is doubtful as he has been struggling with back pain.

Goalkeeper Justin Haber, signed from Birkirkara last week, is in line to make the Hibs squad for the first time after recovering from hand surgery.

Coach Branko Nisevic acknowledged that a win tomorrow would have added value not only because Hibs are facing a potential title challenger but also because it would enable them to narrow their gap on leaders Valletta who are expected to beat Qormi today.

“Entering the third round, it is extremely important to make sure that the distance from Valletta does not increase,” Nisevic said.

“I think that, in the second round, we’ve done better than in the first.

“We have also gained four or five points more than we did in the previous round.

“So, the overall impression is positive and, in the third round, I expect our consistency to improve further because this is what wins you titles.”

Although the jury is still out on Birkirkara’s title credentials, Nisevic is not ruling them out.

“I do think that, apart from Valletta and us, Birkirkara and Balzan can challenge for the title,” the Serbian coach remarked.

“The road is long and anything can happen… it’s going to be between these four teams.”

Nisevic refrained from passing judgment on Birkirkara’s decision to revamp their squad in January but admitted that some of their new signings have impressed him.

“Making so many changes in January can work both ways,” the Hibs tactician said.

“It can have a good effect or it can make things extremely difficult.

“Birkirkara have signed good players, especially the goalkeeper (Miroslav Kopric) who controls the box. He is tall and agile.

“Mislav Andelkovic is a good playmaker… he is another crucial asset for them. It’s in attack where Birkirkara are still looking for their best formula.”

First round: Hibernians vs Birkirkara 1-1.

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