Birkirkara will be bidding to rescue their title bid this afternoon when they square up to joint-leaders Hibernians.
The 1-0 reverse to Sliema Wanderers last Sunday has ratcheted up the pressure on the Stripes who now find themselves four points adrift of Valletta and Hibs with nine games remaining.
If Birkirkara are hellbent on getting back on track, Hibs are equally determined to boost their own chances after opening the Championship Pool trek with a 3-0 victory over Tarxien.
Birkirkara midfielder Paul Fenech dubbed this match as a “do-or-die” affair.
“We’ve been working really hard to be as well-prepared as we can for this game,” he said.
“After the defeat to Sliema, we needed to talk and clarify a few things. We can’t continue to repeat the stupid mistakes that have cost us dear in many games.
“We have a strong squad and we can challenge for a top-three position but this is a do-or-die clash for us. We can’t afford to drop more points.”
To a certain extent, Hibs’ current status as co-leaders has taken many by surprise but Fenech is not one of them.
The Malta midfielder said: “They have many quality players. Hibs had a bad spell at the start of the season but they’ve recovered.
“After the Sliema game, our confidence was rock-bottom but the coach has addressed that problem this week,” Fenech added.
“We have regained the faith and belief that we can challenge for the title but we must show it on the pitch.”
Shola Shodiya Haruna is out, sus-pended, but otherwise Birkirkara can bank on a full squad.
Hibs captain Mario Muscat is backing his team to deal a potentially hammer blow to their opponents’ title hopes.
“This is a direct clash,” Muscat said.
“Birkirkara are coming from a defeat. If they lose again, they would effectively be out of the race.”
As the most representative player at Hibs, Muscat knows what it means to be involved in a title race.
“We believe we can challenge for the championship,” Muscat said.
“We can’t dwell on the past so we must focus on our next nine games. And it’s the results, rather than performances, that really count at this stage.”
Hibs will go into their clash with Bir-kirkara with a spring in their step after a 3-0 win over Tarxien.
“Winning our derby was a boost, moreso as it was the first time we had beaten Tarxien this season,” Muscat said.
“It was also important to win ahead of two difficult fixtures against Birkirkara and Sliema. It was not one of our best games this season but we still managed to win convincingly and that is an encouraging sign.”
Hibs received another fillip this week with the news that striker Obinna Obiefule has rejoined the squad after rejecting a loan move to a Chinese club.
The Nigerian is expected to be in the squad today but defender Zoran Levnaic is still recovering from injury.
Previous results: Hibs vs Birkirkara 0-1, 0-0.
The other matches
Valletta vs Sliema Wanderers (today 4pm, National Stadium).
Valletta will be wary of Sliema’s threat after the Blues toppled Birkirkara in their last outing.
The Citizens are on a high after a 5-0 mauling of Mosta. Nigerian winger Abubakar Bello-Osagie is doubtful for Valletta today.
Sliema coach Alfonso Greco is beset by the absence of striker Ivan Woods, suspended, but winger John Mintoff is available after serving his one-match ban.
First-choice goalkeeper Henry Bonello is still sidelined with a broken leg.
Previous results: Valletta vs Sliema 1-1, 2-0.
Floriana vs Balzan (tomorrow 2pm, Hibs Stadium).
Floriana and Balzan will go a long way towards dispelling their relegation worries if they claim victory tomorrow.
Both started their Relegation Pool commitments on a sound footing as Floriana beat Melita 2-1 and Balzan had the better of Ħamrun Spartans 3-1.
Iain Brunskill, the Floriana coach, must make at least one change from the Melita game as defender Owen Bugeja is suspended. On the plus side, Sacha Borg and Gary Roberts are back in the frame after suspension.
Balzan are also buoyed by the return of three players who missed the Ħamrun win due to suspension, namely Yessous Camilleri, Jonathan Francica and Renato Conceicao.
Previous results: Floriana vs Balzan 3-1, 3-1.
Mosta vs Tarxien Rainbows (tomorrow 4pm, Hibs Stadium).
Danilo Doncic will face his former team Tarxien in only his second game since taking charge of Mosta.
Both teams had little to cheer about in their last outings as Mosta went down heavily to Valletta and Tarxien got beaten by Hibs in the derby.
Doncic is hoping to have Steve Bezzina back as the left-back is close to completing his recovery from injury. Bryan Agius is available but Doncic is concerned about the fitness of Carlos Campagnoli, Steve Chiemeka and Tyrone Farrugia.
Forward Andrezinho is suspended for Tarxien while defender Branislav Timotic is doubtful with back trouble.
Previous results: Mosta vs Tarxien 0-2, 1-3.
Birkirkara’s Edward Herrera (left) holds off Hibs midfielder Jackson Lima.