Marsaxlokk and Msida St Joseph are staring at a make-or-break scenario. The much-coveted sixth and final berth in the Championship Pool will be at stake when these two teams go head to head in their final second round match at the National Stadium today (kick-off 14.00).
Not so long ago, Msida were regarded as surefire favourites to complete the Championship Pool line-up as they enjoyed a sizeable lead over their impending opponents but a combination of three successive defeats and Marsaxlokk's resurgence has reopened the top-six issue.
This duel has deepened the incandescent rivalry between Msida and Marsaxlokk who have been at loggerheads since Patrick Curmi left the Saints to take charge of the former Malta champions.
Curmi now finds himself plotting the downfall of his former team but make no mistake, Msida will be adamant on gaining the point they need to reach their objective and leave their former chief-in-command facing a grim relegation scrap.
There is no denying that Msida's top-six quest has been undermined by the transfer uncertainty surrounding Brazilian striker Pedro Dos Santos Calcado, aka Pedrinho, and the knee injury sustained by Marcos Aurelio.
Pedrinho is Msida's top scorer with 11 goals but in his absence, the Saints have failed to find the net in three consecutive losses.
Pedrinho has been training with a team in Dubai for much of the past two weeks but coach Joe Abdilla told The Times that the Brazilian was due to return to Malta yesterday ahead of today's match with Marsaxlokk.
Aurelio has resumed training after recovering from a cartilage operation but lacks match fitness.
Abdilla is confident that Pedrinho's return will help to raise the team's morale.
"Pedrinho is our top scorer and his presence for such an important game should lift the players' spirits," the Msida coach said.
As Msida lead Marsaxlokk by two points, a draw would see them through but Abdilla dispelled suggestions that his team might adopt negative tactics.
"We're going into this clash with a winning mentality," Abdilla said.
Asked to identify the reasons behind Msida's slump in form in the last month, Abdilla replied: "Pedrinho's absence has certainly not helped our cause but I also think that collectively, the players may have relaxed a bit because we were so close to the Championship Pool."
Msida's recent decline contrasts sharply with Marsaxlokk's revival but Abdilla is optimistic that his team will be up for the challenge this afternoon.
"Marsaxlokk had very bad spell but they've recovered," Abdilla said. "Luck has been on their side in the victories over Tarxien and Birkirkara. They certainly have a good squad but I'm confident that Msida will rise to the occasion."
Their morale sky-high after Julio Alcorse's late strike against Birkirkara extended their winning run to two league matches, Marsaxlokk couldn't have hoped for a better build-up to such an important match.
Unlike Msida, the Blues are in a must-win situation but Curmi wouldn't have it any different.
"When I took over Marsaxlokk, the team was 11 points behind Msida and our chances of wiping out that deficit looked very remote," Curmi said. "To make matters worse, results didn't come our way in my first weeks as Marsaxlokk coach but we refused to let our heads drop.
"I'm pleased to have restored unity in the squad. The players have also got used to my coaching methods and philosophy. This improvement has enabled us to eat into Msida's lead to the point that if we beat them, we will qualify for the Championship Pool.
"Before, our hopes depended on the results of other teams but our fate is in our own hands now. We are one win away from a place in the Championship Pool and we're all determined to reach our target."
Curmi has no selection worries. Midfielder Kevin Sammut is back in the frame after sitting out the 3-2 win over Birkirkara due to suspension.
Marsaxlokk have also been buoyed by the news that Gareth Sciberras is eligible to play after getting confirmation that the midfielder's yellow card against the Stripes was his third rather than his fourth, as initially thought.
Curmi is aware that his departure from Msida last year has given today's clash an extra edge but he is anything but happy that his relationship with his former club has plumbed the depths.
"Players and coaches come and go in football, as in any other sport, and this is why I can't understand why there has been so much fuss about my departure from Msida," Curmi said.
"During my two-and-a-half tenure as coach of Msida, I tackled all the issues related to the team and my job head-on and with a professional attitude. The only reason I left is because they failed to honour my contract but that belongs to the past now."
The Marsaxlokk mentor acknowledged that the possible return of Pedrinho would boost Msida but he's not unduly concerned.
"Pedrinho's inclusion would give Msida extra motivation but we're not playing against one man. Irrespective of whether Pedrinho plays or not, I believe that Marsaxlokk are strong enough to win this match," Curmi said.
First round result - Marsaxlokk vs Msida 1-1.