The national championship should spark off to some real competition today after yet another low-key take-off when the top four teams will again be engaged in head-to-head clashes, this time with cup honours also attached to the points at stake.

In fact, the matches between Marsascala Breakers and Go Mobile Sirens and the Sliema-Neptunes derby will earn the winners the SportsWriters' Association Cup and the more prestigious President's Cup respectively.

All teams have now played seven matches each. The postponed Sliema-Otters game was easily won by the Blues at their home pitch 22-3 last Thursday.

Attendances were poor so far but perhaps the added lustre to this evening's clashes will draw better crowds. All proceeds from the gates will be donated to the Community Chest Fund.

Last year, the President's Cup was won by Sirens. They beat Sliema 7-5 on that occasion but this time the team from St Paul's Bay will be out of the contest as champions Sliema's opponents are 2003 KO winners Neptunes.

The Reds beat Marsascala 14-7 in August last year to make it three successive Sportswriters' Association Cup victories in a row.

Inspirational Borg

Sliema and Neptunes are both on a perfect 14-point tally and joint leaders in the standings after last week's close victories over Sirens (3-2) and Marsascala (8-7) respectively.

The southerners showed true resilience in their game against Neptunes last Friday but fell short of a deserved point after running out of steam in the last session.

Today, Sirens will have to be careful to avoid a second successive upset as coach Pierre Borg seems to have infused an ideal winning attitude in his players at Marsascala notwithstanding the underdogs' tag attached to his team in the championship race.

Today's programme:

10.15 a.m. Otters vs San Giljan; 11.15 a.m. Marsaxlokk vs Ta' Xbiex; 12.15 p.m. Exiles vs Valletta; 5 p.m. Marsascala vs Sirens; 6 p.m. Neptunes vs Sliema.