The second phase of the BOV Premier League gets underway this evening with the opening matches from the Championship and Relegation Pools at the National Stadium.
Pietà Hotspurs and Mqabba will set the ball rolling at 6 p.m. when they meet in a key basement clash, particularly crucial for the Bobby Giorev's newly-promoted team who will be looking to keep alive their flickering hopes of avoiding the drop.
However, much of the attention will be focused on the second match (kick-off 8 p.m.) which will see Marsaxlokk targeting all three points against Floriana to go top of the standings.
Champions Marsaxlokk, currently second just one point behind Valletta, have a tough task in their hands as they have no fewer than six regulars out of the equation.
Defender Renato Conceicao and midfielders Kevin Sammut, Cleaven Frendo and Peter Pullicino will serve a one-match ban. Gareth Sciberras is out with an eye injury while utility player Malcolm Licari is recovering from knee surgery. The absentees left coach Brian Talbot with only 12 senior players in his squad. Six youngsters from the minor side will be drafted in for today's match.
"Having so many key players missing makes life difficult for us to get the result we want," Talbot said.
"The circumstances will automatically open the way for a number of players like Steven Wellman, Shaun Tellus and William Camenzuli who did not have much playing time lately to stake a claim for a more regular place in the team.
"We've been training hard lately and the players look eager to start the second phase with a win against Floriana. Could be that there are other teams tipped to challenge for the title but we are not ready yet to relinquish our title without a fight."
Floriana coach Danilo Doncic has a full complement at his disposal. Having already secured qualification to the Championship Pool, Doncic admitted that the team is playing with little pressure as they now press for a UEFA club competition berth.
"A good start in the Championship Pool is what we need," Doncic said.
"At the moment we are only a few points away from the top four... victory against Marsaxlokk will be a huge boost for our ambitions.
"They have some regulars missing but Marsaxlokk are a very strong team. Still, we've shown we can beat anyone in the championship."
Results so far: Marsaxlokk vs Floriana 3-2, 4-1.
Refalo gets six-match ban
Pietà Hotspurs will look to enhance their survival chances when they face bottom-placed Mqabba. The Hotspurs' ambitions were dealt a blow recently with the news that Quilin Refalo was handed a six-match ban.
The striker was sanctioned for his involvement in an argument with a Hamrun Spartans official following his dismissal during the 3-0 derby defeat last January.
Pietà president Edward Schembri confirmed Refalo's suspension and added that the club will be lodging an appeal that will be heard by the Appeals' Board in the coming days.
Mqabba, on their part, are expected to field their strongest formation as they look to chalk up their second successive league win after completing their first stage commitments with a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Msida St Joseph.
Trailing the third-from bottom side by eight points, Giorev's team have to win this match to keep alive their chances.
Results so far: Mqabba vs Pietà 1-6, 0-5.