The Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) yesterday called a news conference during which the final list of those in Team Malta for next month's Games of the Small States of Europe was to be announced.
However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the MOC was forced to provide a provisional list as there are still some who have yet to prove their fitness as a number of issues still need to be resolved, particularly in men's basketball and gymnastics.
The basketball team, Malta's first GSSE medal winners following the bronze in the debut Games of San Marino in 1985, was expected to make a first GSSE showing since 2003.
However, injury to key player Marko Matijevic and growing uncertainty on Australia-based player Godfrey Gauci, has cast serious doubts on their participation in Cyprus.
MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco did not make a mention on Gauci's situation yesterday. However, he admitted that following Matijevic's injury the MOC and the Malta Basketball Association were evaluating the situation.
"Matijevic was the most influential player in the basketball squad and his loss was a huge blow for the team's chances to fight for a medal," he said.
The situation is similarly complicated for the young gymnasts in the girls' team.
As reported last week, the FIG, the world governing body of gymnastics, is in a dispute with the Cyprus Games organisers over an age limit in international competitions. The FIG wants the GSSE to observe the rules, making those under 16 ineligible to compete next month.
"I feel that the Cyprus technical commission has acted late... this uncertainty should have been resolved months ago," the MOC president said.
"It's not fair on those who have been training hard to qualify."
Meanwhile, the most notable aspect in the list of athletes, read out by Director of Sport Mark Cutajar, was the absence of male swimmers even though the ASA are expected to make one last plea to have them re-instated.
In the MOC list so far, there are only the names of Nicole Cremona and Nicki Muscat.
They will be joined by Talisa Pace, Melinda Sue Micallef and Davina Mangion who form part of the 4x200m relay team.
Team Malta will have 21 track and field athletes which include veterans Carol Walsh and Mario Bonello and newcomer James D'Alfonso.
Sprinter Diane Borg, hampered by injury since Monaco 2007, was included in the list along with the recovering Charlene Attard and Xuereb twins Martina and Francesca.
There were no surprises in the women's basketball squad that has foreign-based Rebecca Brincat, Ashleigh Vella, Loretta Ellul and Josephine Grima in its ranks.
Monaco 2007 gold medallists Marcon Bezzina and Joanna Camilleri will spearhead Malta's challenge in judo while Benji Borg and Zak Borg are again part of a strong sailing team for Cyprus.
In shooting, William Chetcuti, Frans Pace and Clive Farrugia will target more medals for the country as Rebecca Madyson and Kathryn Cassar were confirmed as the first female shooters to represent Malta in GSSE.
Tennis players Matthew Asciak Daniel Ceross and Kim Cassar will compete in singles but uncertainty still hovers on the participation of Elaine Genovese and Lisa Camenzuli, both not 100 per cent fit.
"Given the circumstances, the Cyprus GSSE will be a stern test for us," Cutajar said referring to the growing list of injuries.
"Obviously, we have to wait for the Games to finish to make an assessment but I believe that on our return we have to make a serious analysis on the training routines of our athletes."
Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco admitted that fourth place in the overall medals table was becoming a tall order. However, he was confident of a satisfactory outcome for Team Malta in general.
"Fourth place is a tough objective but I'm still hopeful we can return home with some encouraging results," the MOC head said.
"Unfortunately, we are unable to field a more competitive team. In table tennis, we had a strong formation lined up with a potential for gold medals but our plans were scuppered by outsiders who claimed our players were ineligible for Cyprus," he added without giving further details.