Top-six contenders Marsaxlokk, Ħamrun Spartans and Sliema Wanderers will be without key players for Sunday’s crucial league matches, all kicking off at 3 p.m.

Marsaxlokk coach Patrick Curmi faces a selection headache ahead of his team’s needle match against fellow Championship Pool challengers Qormi on Sunday as he must do without four players.

Rumen Galabov, Andrew Spiteri, Gareth Sciberras and Martin Dea-nov received a one-match ban yesterday. Defender Galabov’s red card in Marsaxlokk’s 2-2 draw with Vittoriosa triggered an automatic one-match ban while Spiteri, Sciberras and Deanov were punished after they earned their fourth caution in Friday’s match.

A draw would be enough for Marsaxlokk to seal their place in the elite pool but Qormi, who revived their hopes with a 4-1 thumping of champions Birkirkara last weekend, will draw courage from their opponents’ troubles and the fact that none of their players was on the suspensions’ list yesterday.

Ħamrun, level with Qormi on 20 points, were also dealt a blow as forward Dene Shields and utility man Massimo Grima were handed a one-match ban for four yellow cards. The Spartans duo will have to miss Sunday’s clash with Vittoriosa Stars at the National Stadium.

Sliema Wanderers, who trail the fifth-placed Marsaxlokk by four points, will have Obinna Obiefule missing for Sunday’s match against Hibs at the Tedesco Stadium.

The Nigerian, who scored Sliema’s winner from the penalty spot in the 1-0 victory over Floriana, was banned for one game after collecting his fourth booking in Sunday’s Old Firm derby.

Meanwhile, the Malta FA Disciplinary Commissioner came down heavily on Tarxien Rainbows striker Daniel Mariano Bueno. The Brazilian was dismissed early in the second half of Sunday’s derby with Hibernians, who won the match 3-1, following a spat with defender Aaron Xuereb.

Bueno was suspended two matches for his red-card offence and received a further one-match ban for accruing four yellow cards.

The suspension rules Bueno out of Tarxien’s final second-round match against Birkirkara on Saturday as well as their opening two Championship Pool games.

Floriana’s flank defender Thomas Paris was handed a one-match ban following his sending-off in last weekend’s 1-0 upset to Sliema. He skips the derby against Valletta.