Żebbuġ Rangers vs Sliema Wanderers (today at 2pm, Hibernians Stadium).
Alfonso Greco, now in charge of Zebbuġ Rangers, will face Sliema Wanderers for the first time since losing his coaching job with the Blues in October.
The Italian must make do without Yessous Camilleri, Jacob Borg and Kurt Zammit, who all received a one-match ban after the 5-2 loss to Hibs, but his options are boosted by the arrivals of Italian midfielder Paltemio Barbetti, formerly of Sliema, English striker Rashid Yussuff and goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo.
The Rangers are also engaged in talks with a Dutch defender but he is unlikely to be available today.
Stephen Azzopardi, the Sliema coach, can’t bank on a full squad as Italian defender Stefano Bianciardi is suspended and Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and Michael Mifsud are on the casualty list.
There are still doubts over Alex Muscat’s readiness to play as the Sliema captain has just completed his recovery from a cruciate operation.
Young forward Peter Xuereb and Mark Scerri have been laid low with influenza but the latter is expected to recover.
First round: Sliema vs Żebbuġ 1-0.
Birkirkara vs Tarxien Rainbows (today at 2pm, Tedesco Stadium).
Birkirkara will be going all out to avenge their 3-1 defeat to Tarxien Rainbows in the first round.
This has not exactly been a serene season for the Stripes, who are joint-second with Valletta on 34 points, but it has been even worse for Tarxien who are langushing in 10th place.
News that Liliu is out for the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the 5-1 win over Mosta is a blow for Birkirkara as the Brazilian is their leading scorer in the league with 12 goals.
Tarxien have signed two Spanish players, midfielder Jorge Yepes and striker Edu Vallecillo but it remains to be seen whether the duo will be eligible to play today.
Brazilian defender Alessandro Lopes is out, suspended, but Spanish midfielder Carlos Menendez Hevia is available.
Ryan Sammut and Alex Cini are doubtful as both have been down with flu this week.
First round: Tarxien vs Birkirkara 3-1.
Pietà Hotspurs vs Valletta (today at 4pm, Hibernians Stadium).
Valletta coach Ivan Zammit is likely to remind his players of the popular saying ‘once bitten, twice shy’ after the champions were on the receiving end of a shock 2-1 defeat to Pietà Hotspurs in the first round.
Midfielder Roderick Briffa and defender Jonathan Caruana are available for the Citizens after serving suspension but Shaun Bajada is still recovering from a hamstring problem.
Christian Caruana will also miss out after suffering an injury in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat of Qormi.
Italian goalkeeper Pietro Marino has rejoined the Citizens but is not expected to be in the squad today as Valletta were still waiting for his international clearance yesterday.
Pietà Hotspurs have yet to bring in replacements for Brazilian striker Rafael Xavier, Serbian midfielder Nikola Tasic and Terrence Agius.
Brazilians Gabriel and Leonardo Fortunato are back in the fray after missing the 2-1 defeat to Sliema through suspension but Cain Attard is out with a broken hand and Jurgen Pisani is struggling with a knee injury.
On the plus side, Kyle Cesare is available for selection after tests showed that the rib injury he suffered during last weekend’s game was not as serious as initially feared.
First round: Pietà vs Valletta 2-1.
Mosta vs Qormi (today at 4.15pm, Tedesco Stadium).
Mosta will be hoping that the new players will give the team some much-needed impetus, starting with their game against Qormi who are also chasing points to improve their lowly position.
The Blues, down to seventh after three successive defeats, have signed Cameroonian defender Yannick Ossok, English midfielder Gary Roberts, Brazilian playmaker Diogo Pinheiro Sousa and striker Ian Zammit.
Uchenna Emenike had also agreed a deal to join Mosta after being released by Naxxar Lions but the Nigerian’s registration was not accepted by the Malta FA as he has already played for two clubs this season.
Coach Peter Smith has fitness concerns over Rodriguez Ekani and Ishmael Grech while Mano Micallef, who has been linked with Valletta and Floriana, is still injured.
Serbian midfielder Nemanja Milovanovic is suspended.
Qormi are also in the midst of a crisis after taking only four points from their last eight games. Last weekend, they threw away a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat to Valletta.
Coach Josef Mansueto is currently gauging the qualities of two Brazilian and two Serbian players.
Wing-back Duncan Pisani is suspended for Qormi but midfielder Clifford Gauci, who was on the books of Żebbuġ Rangers, is in line to make his debut.
First round: Qormi vs Mosta 4-0.
Naxxar Lions vs Hibernians (tomorrow at 4pm, National Stadium).
Hibernians start as surefire favourites to extend their amazing record as they chase their 17th victory in 18 games.
Standing in the leaders’ way are Naxxar Lions who are ravaged by suspensions after goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi, forward Daren Falzon and new signing Albert Bruce were handed a one-match ban in midweek.
The Lions have ended the contracts of Pape Gueye, David Reano and Emenike but the availability of Brazilian livewire Gilmar, who has returned from his Christmas holidays, and new signing Jorge will ease coach Jesmond Zerafa’s selection problems.
Hibs are missing Rui De Gracia Gomes, away on international duty with Equatorial Guinea, and Timmy Tabone Desira, injured.
Brazilian wing-back Marcelo Dias is expected to be delared fit as he nears the end of his recovery from an ankle injury while midfielder Bjorn Kristensen returns from suspension.
First round: Hibs vs Naxxar 5-1.