It says everything about the unpredictability of the 2016/17 BOV Premier League that champions Valletta and Hibernians, runners-up last term, find themselves under pressure to stay in touch with the pacesetters ahead of their first meeting this season.

A 2-0 loss to Floriana spoiled Valletta’s unbeaten start while Hibs succumbed to their second defeat after going down 2-0 to sole leaders Balzan in midweek.

While these are still early days, both Valletta and Hibs will be mindful of the dangers of falling further adrift amid expectations of a fierce title race involving potentially five teams.

Valletta coach Paul Zammit has admitted that City are passing through a rocky spell, a situation further compounded by the long-term absence of key midfielder Roderick Briffa, who had cruciate surgery in Rome last week, and the calf injury suffered by Claudio Pani, but the experienced tactician ex-pects a reaction from his team.

“I must say that our current situation has not occurred overnight because we knew that this could happen,” Zammit said.

“It’s not as if we are suddenly struggling because we lost the derby. Losing to Floriana hurts Valletta as a club, our group of players and the fans, it’s normal, but we’re aware that we are facing certain difficulties, ranging from injuries, players who are off form and episodes during games which are going against us.

“I believe that the best way to emerge from this difficult situation is to play again. True, we already have another tough game coming up but this is the best thing that could happen to us.”

In Wednesday’s clash, Valletta had more possession but found it hard to create openings.

It was the second successive match in which Valletta dropped points after having surrendered a two-goal lead against Balzan.

News that left-back Leandro Aguirre received a two-match ban following his late red card in the derby will have done little to raise Valletta’s spirits but Zammit issued a rallying cry to his players.

“I prefer to concentrate on my house,” Zammit said.

“And I’m asking every member of this family to be humble and fight for a common cause. We have a chance to bounce back but it will not be easy.

“I’ve watched Hibs play. Their performances have improved since the start of the championship and could have taken something from their last game (against Balzan).

“We will come across an organised team and for us to prevail, it would have to be our day. We have to be up for it.”

Hibs’ 2-0 defeat to Balzan left them on the nine-point mark, one adrift of Valletta and four behind Balzan.

Despite his frustration at what he described as an outrageous decision by referee Philip Farrugia to award Balzan a penalty – converted by Bojan Kaljevic – after Alfred Effiong went down in the box seven minutes time, Miller preferred to focus on the positives.

“We were the better side but the referee made a decision that was outrageous,” Miller said.

“That was the difference in the game. We didn’t deserve to lose but I can only take pluses from the match.”

Miller acknowledged that the players were gutted about the manner of the loss to Balzan but insisted that, whatever the results, he will continue with the project he has started.

“A defeat always affects the players’ confidence,” Miller said.

“We have set ourselves a way of doing things, by also involving the young players, and we are staying loyal to them. There is a transition going on at Hibs and we need to do it smoothly.

“The road will be bumpy but it’s how you deal with the setbacks that counts. We know that we have to keep working hard.”

Miller is relishing the prospect of facing Valletta.

“I relish this kind of matches. Really, I prefer to face one of the top teams rather than a smaller side that plays defensively,” he said.

“This is a 50-50 game. Valletta are the champions but this is a new year and things change. They are coming from a  defeat and had some strange results lately but the league is what it is.

“We try to do our best along the week and hopefully it comes out during the game.”

Midfielder Bjorn Kristensen was taken to hospital on Thursday night after a collision with Effiong left him with a deep gash on his forehead, which needed nine stitches.

He is expected to receive the all-clear to face Valletta tonight but Miller has other injury concerns.

Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg, who missed the Balzan defeat, is still struggling with back pain while Marcelo Dias is doubtful.

Rui Da Gracia Gomes and Diosdado Mbele, both from Equatorial Guinea, are still sidelined.

Buoyant Balzan

■ Balzan, the only unbeaten side in the Premier League this season, start favourites to maintain their positive start but the leaders are unlikely to underestimate Gżira United who come into this match in high spirits after a 3-0 win over Pembroke Athleta.

Oliver Spiteri, the Balzan coach, is not expected to make significant changes from the team that started the 2-0 victory over Hibernians, courtesy of late goals from Bojan Kaljevic and Alfred Effiong.

Brazilian midfielder Anderson and Ryan Fenech are again out of the equation.

Gżira United are still ravaged by injuries and suspensions but their fringe players seized their chance on Thursday to improve their chances of receiving more first-team opportunities.

Coach Branko Nisevic is likely to keep faith with the same players who started in their last match but must make one change in defence as defender Tony must serve a one-match ban for four yellow cards.

Forward Robert is still out, suspended, along with John Nwoba (ankle) and Rafael Ledesma (knock) while Mali defender Souleymane Diamoutene is doubtful.

Striker Joceano is back from suspension.

Birkirkara favourites

■ Birkirkara have good reason to be upbeat about staying on the winning trail as they take on Pembroke Athleta, the only team with no points after five games.

Regarded as strong title candidates, the Stripes were back on song on Thursday as they bagged a 2-0 win over Mosta to ease the disappointment of an unexpected 2-1 loss to Sliema in their previous outing.

Coach Drazen Besek is unlikely to tinker with his formation tonight.

Pembroke’s woeful start to the season hit a new low in midweek after a 3-0 upset to Gżira United.

Winston Muscat, the Pembroke coach, is plagued by a lack of firepower with Luke Montebello, the team’s leading striker, still doubtful. Midfielder Clifford Gauci is also facing a race against time to regain fitness.

Sliema under scrutiny

■ The Sliema Wanderers-Tarxien Rainbows fixture is a clash between two teams that have experienced contrasting fortunes in their last match.

While Sliema were on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat to St Andrew’s, Tarxien made it back-to-back wins after beating Ħamrun Spartans 2-1.

John Buttigieg, the Sliema coach, must have been appalled by his team’s tame performance against the Saints but he can’t make too many changes as his resources are very limited.

His options are further stretched by the injury-enforced absence of his two first-choice defenders, Italian Stefano Bianciardi and Roger, from Brazil, while keeper Giu-seppe Sarao is still ranked doubtful.

Tarxien Rainbows coach Jacques Scerri is boosted by the return from suspension of Argentine midfielder Sergio Prendes and Brazilian midfielder Rogelio.

Spanish winger Daniel Ponce and Nigerian Ebiabowei Baker picked up slight knocks in the match against the Spartans and were due to be assessed during yesterday’s training session.

Ayrton Azzopardi (knee) and Julian Galea (groin) are injured.

Buzzing Saints meet Mosta

■ St Andrew’s are buzzing after their impressive 3-0 victory over the more-quoted Sliema Wanderers side.

Tomorrow, the Saints will be striving to show that the win over their illustrious neighbours was no fluke but they will not have an easy job as they will be up against a Mosta team hellbent on climbing up the table after taking only three points from their first five games.

Defender Ante Bakmaz is set to return for St Andrew’s after recovering from flu but South Korean defender Wong Bon Che, who is being used as holding midfielder by Josè Borg, is doubtful after picking up a minor injury in the last game.

Serbian midfielder Nenad Belacevic is still out with groin trouble.

Mosta will be without flank defender Adrian Caruana, sent off for two cautions in the 2-0 defeat to Birkirkara, but Kurt Magro and Tristan Grant could return.

Maldini doubtful

■  Floriana go into their clash with Ħamrun Spartans in buoyant mood after beating rivals Valletta 2-0 to halt a run of two consecutive defeats.

Giovanni Tedesco, the Floriana coach, will urge his players not to let the euphoria of their derby win affect their mindset for this tricky clash with the Spartans who will be looking to get back to winning ways after their defeat to Tarxien Rainbows.

Midfielder Clyde Borg is back for Floriana after missing the derby to serve suspension.

Spartans coach Steve D’Amato will be hoping for a return to normality after all the hype surrounding Milan legend Paolo Maldini’s presence at the Hibs Stadium to watch his son Christian play against Tarxien last Thursday.

Maldini Jr could miss tomorrow’s league clash with Floriana after a hamstring muscle strain.

Programme

Playing today – Hibernians Stadium
Balzan vs Gżira United - 18.00
Pembroke Athleta vs Birkirkara - 20.00

Today – National Stadium
Sliema vs Tarxien Rainbows - 18.00
Valletta vs Hibernians - 20.00

Tomorrow – National Stadium
Mosta vs St Andrew’s - 18.00
Ħamrun Spartans vs Floriana - 20.00