Out of the FA Trophy but still flying high in the Premier League, Hibernians are entitled to feel optimistic about their chances of ending the first phase of the domestic championship on top.

Victory today (kick-off 3.30 p.m.) would surely galvanise the Paolites' hopes of beating Valletta to pole position but their task promises to be anything but straightforward as they will be up against Tarxien Rainbows, their neighbouring rivals.

On paper, Hibs are stronger than Tarxien but derbies have a reputation for being unpredictable. Tarxien may be bottom of the class but their improved performances in the last few weeks have complicated matters in the red zone, in the process raising hopes of an absorbing four-way relegation battle in the final two months of the season.

Tarxien will also take heart from the news that Hibs will be without Alexis Tekumu Mbongo today and possibly for the rest of the season.

Signed last August, the Congo midfielder-cum-winger was granted permission to spend one week in Switzerland, where his family is based, but Mbongo has since notified his employers that he won't be coming back for personal reasons.

"Mbongo hasn't returned," Miller told The Sunday Times.

"He had requested permission to return home for family reasons and after the Sliema game in the Trophy, I gave him a one-week break. A few days later, we received a phone call from Mbongo saying he won't be returning to Malta.

"It looks like we have lost a foreign player and that's a big blow for us because our squad is very limited. We're again down to the bare essentials for this match but it also means more opportunities for our young players."

Apart from Mbongo, Miller must also cope without Aaron Xuereb. The towering defender has a groin injury and is likely to be sidelined for two to three weeks.

Switching his focus to his side's clash with Tarxien and Hibs' chances of finishing the second round at the summit of the Premier League, Miller said: "Games are there to be won but there's no easy match in this league. Tarxien will be difficult, they are fighting hard to retain their Premier League status.

"As far as we're concerned, we approach every game as if it was our last one. After Tarxien, we play Birkirkara in a top-of-the-table clash. I think that two good results from these matches will give us a lot of confidence ahead of the Championship Pool."

Hibs can now invest all their energies into their title challenge after bowing out of the FA Trophy following a 1-0 defeat to Sliema Wanderers.

The Paolites have had two weeks to recover from that setback.

"Life goes on," Miller replied when asked if the trophy exit might have undermined his team's erstwhile high morale.

"After the quarter-finals, the players went on international duty and did a fine job for the national team," Miller added.

"I gave my squad a four-day rest, so the players have had the chance to spend some time with their families. They have been training really hard in the last few days.

"Looking back on our defeat in the FA Trophy, I thought we were the better team but we didn't score and we didn't win. I don't think our exit from the cup competition has been a setback in terms of morale.

"I'm more concerned about the fact that we've only scored one goal and conceded two in our last two games. We certainly need to improve on that."

Tarxien coach Noel Coleiro is also hopeful that the 2-1 defeat to Marsaxlokk last weekend will not weigh heavily on his players' minds today.

The Rainbows looked to have done enough to gain a point from their clash with Marsaxlokk but their efforts were undone by a last-gasp goal from Marcelo Pereira.

"The result was harsh on us," Coleiro said.

"We thought we had a point in the bag but that stoppage-time goal ruined the day for us. However, we showed tremendous character against Marsaxlokk. Another display of that quality will surely make Hibs sweat to beat us in the derby."

Coleiro can't bank on a full squad today as defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and midfielder Andrew Decesare are suspended. Midfielder Denni Dos Santos is definitely out as he has not recovered fully from a knee injury.

"We have a couple of regulars missing for this match but I'm not discouraged," Coleiro added.

"We have given our all these past few matches, particularly against top-six sides. So, I expect the boys to do the same against Hibs. We intend to stay up this season. To do that we have to play consistently well and battle hard for every point at stake."

First round result - Hibs vs Tarxien Rainbows 2-0.