Malta's U-19 snooker team will be involved in a friendly match against England on Wednesday at the Duke of Connaught Band Club in Birkirkara.

The following day, Malta's U-25 selection will take on Sweden in a doubles match at the 147 Snooker Hall in Ħamrun. Wednesday's match will start at 6.30 p.m. while the game against Sweden on Thursday begins at 7 p.m.

The three players selected to play for Malta in the friendly against England are U-19 national champion Thurston Grixti, Aaron Busuttil and Matthias Mallia. They will be pitting their wits against the strong English trio of Jake Nicholson, Ryan Clark and George Marter.

Clayton Castaldi, 24 and currently placed fifth in the national rankings, and Grixti will cross cues with Sweden's international players Douglas Appleberg and Christopher Koba in Thursday's doubles encounter.

The two Swedish players are both 21 years old and have already represented their country in the World U-21 Snooker Championship. Koba also competed in the World Snooker Championship.

The Swedish pair have also agreed to play a friendly match against Malta U-21 players Duncan Pisani and Busuttil. Jesmond Sporting Club is the venue for this match which will take place today week, starting at 7 p.m.

These matches are organised by the Malta Billiards and Snooker Association (MBSA) in collaboration with Vincent Pisani, director of Pro Am Snooker who made the contacts with the young English and Swedish players to come to Malta.

Some of the players taking part in next week's friendly matches will also participate in the Invitational European U-17 Snooker Open.

The friendly matches reflect the MBSA's drive to promote the game of snooker and to provide new opportunities to the country's up-and-coming players, a statement said.