This evening's derby between Valletta and Floriana should help put the focus back on the field of play after a turbulent week in local football circles.
On Monday, the Board to Investigate Corrupt Practices reached a verdict on a match-fixing case that saw Vittoriosa Stars demoted to Division One and the MFA rubber-stamping that decision and adding no new teams would be allowed to play in the top flight.
More news on how the championship will develop and whether there will be less than nine teams taking part in the Premier League this season are likely to emerge next week but in the meantime football followers will be looking forward to another exciting duel between fierce rivals Valletta and Floriana.
After another summer of high-spending in the transfer market, it's no surprise that Valletta are seen by many as firm favourites to win all points today. However, one should never discount the threat posed by the Greens in such tense clashes.
Both Valletta and Floriana are led by new coaches, both trying hard to pass on their highly-competitive attitude to their players in this delicate fixture.
Ton Caanen, the Valletta coach, is treating this match as a normal fixture even though he admitted that there is great anticipation from club officials and fans, all eager to see the Citizens beat their sporting enemies.
"For me, this is just another match like all the rest," Caanen said.
"But, I know, that victory today means so much for the fans. From the little time I have been here I came to know of how important it is for Valletta people not to lose this one. So, we will do our best not to let them down.
"The season is still too early and for the team this match is another step towards reaching our peak. I want my team to win and although the result is the most important thing, I also want to see an improved performance from the Birkirkara game. We won that match 3-1 but we should have played much better."
Caanen has no selection problems as Kevin Sammut is now available after missing the previous match through suspension.
Doffo setback
Floriana, however, will not be able to field their strongest formation.
Argentine Pablo Doffo is out with hamstring trouble while Orosco Anonam will have to undergo a late fitness test. The Greens are expected to give a debut to new English striker Donovan Simmonds but compatriot Akanni-Sunday Wasiu, formerly of Colchester, is unlikely to feature as his transfer is likely to be completed next week.
Coach Roddy Collins told reporters yesterday that he was looking forward to his first derby and promised his players will put up a stirring fight despite starting as underdogs.
"I've been told that Floriana-Valletta matches are the biggest games of the season here," the Irishman said during the presentation of his new signings.
"Unfortunately, for us this game came six months early as we are still building on our new squad. But rest assured we are ready to give it our best shot. If both teams play to their maximum, Valletta should win this match but football is a funny game and the result could go either way in such matches.
"What I can promise is that my players will fight all the way not to get beaten.
"Valletta are a very strong side, no doubt, but we can be a very hard team to beat as well and we will do everything in our powers to make sure we leave the stadium with our heads held high."
Other matches
Marsaxlokk vs Dingli Swallows (today at 5 p.m., National Stadium).
Off-field problems aside, Marsaxlokk will be keen to open their account in the 2009-10 Premier League when they play newly-promoted Dingli Swallows in this afternoon's opening match.
Last week, the Southerners slumped to a 3-1 defeat to champions Hibernians but start favourites to beat Dingli as coach Patrick Curmi is expected to welcome back defender Brian Said who missed the match against the Paolites due to a one-match ban.
Dingli will be determined to produce a stronger showing in their second match of the campaign after finishing at the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat to Tarxien Rainbows on their debut in the top flight.
Jesmond Zammit, the Dingli coach, is hopeful his players will show a better defensive display against Marsaxlokk after leaking soft goals against the Rainbows last weekend.
The Swallows cannot field their best formation as Brazilian midfielder Andre Rocha Da Silva is still recovering from a hamstring injury while Kevin Borg (groin) and Victor Fiteni (knock) are not fully fit.
Tarxien Rainbows vs Birkirkara (tomorrow at 5 p.m., National Stadium).
Birkirkara are coming from a 3-1 upset to Valletta and face another testing match as they play a Tarxien Rainbows team brimming with confidence after last week's emphatic 4-1 win over Dingli.
The match will probably be the last for Birkirkara's Danish defender Ron Hartvig who could hang up his boots due to work commitments.
Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit has already identified Hartvig's replacement as he is close to reaching an agreement with Serbian defender Nikola Vucanac. The latter started the season with Vittoriosa Stars but could be released following events that happened earlier in the week.
Vucanac played for the Stripes in the pre-season Euro Cup when he was on a trial.
The Rainbows are sure to be without Brazilian striker Anderson Mendes Ribeiro who is serving a one-match ban after his dismissal against Dingli.
However, on the plus side, coach Noel Coleiro is boosted with the return of striker of Andrew Decesare.
Qormi vs Sliema Wanderers (tomorrow at 7 p.m., National Stadium).
After seeing a 3-0 win over Vittoriosa declared null by the MFA, Sliema Wanderers will be determined to score their first 'real' points of the league when they face Qormi tomorrow evening.
The Wanderers will have to reach their goal without experienced forward Ivan Woods who was ruled out for four weeks after suffering an ankle injury against Vittoriosa.
Qormi, who dropped two precious points after conceding a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Floriana last week, will have a new forward in their squad after Brazilian striker Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo became the club's third foreign player on Thursday.
However, Jesmond Zerafa, the Qormi coach, is sure to be without Steve Wellman who is nursing an injury.