In the mind of the majority of local football enthusiasts, Valletta are already champions this season but they still have some work to do to accomplish their title mission.

Resting on a 10-point cushion with only five games remaining, the Citizens will move to within touching distance of securing the Premier League crown if they overcome Ħamrun Spartans this evening at the National Stadium (kick-off 7.30 p.m.).

A three-point haul for the runaway leaders at the expense of a faltering Spartans team who have only garnered two points from their last five league matches, is regarded as a foregone conclusion but the Whites will not be taking their opponents lightly after their last two meetings with Ħamrun finished one-all.

“This is the most important game of the season for us,” Valletta coach Jesmond Zerafa told The Times. “If we win, we will be very close to clinching the Premier League title. We are approaching this game with a cautious mindset.

“Ħamrun can be dangerous opponents because they have nothing to lose. There are teams that perform better when they are under no pressure. As we get closer to reaching our objective, it’s inevitable that the pressure on our team grows.

“Our immediate goal is to seal the title as early as possible.”

Striker Ian Zammit is still doubtful for Valletta but otherwise Zerafa has a full squad at his disposal. Brazilian livewire Denni returns after suspension kept him out of the 1-0 victory over Tarxien.

Zerafa needs no reminding that Valletta have failed to beat the Spartans in their last two encounters but he’s backing his team to show their true mettle this evening.

“We drew our last two games with Ħamrun,” Zerafa said. “They must be one of the few teams who have denied us a win in two consecutive matches. This will be our fourth league game against Ħamrun and I’m confident that we will emerge victorious this time around.”

Valletta’s extraordinary seq-uence of 23 unbeaten matches in the league is testament to their domination this season. Making sure of the championship remains their no.1 priority but Zerafa admitted that finishing the season without a defeat would make their impending feat more special.

“Our main target is to clinch the title but there’s not a shade of doubt that to do that without losing a game would be an historic achievement for Valletta FC,” Zerafa said. “I believe that setting new targets is vital to keep the players motivated.

“First we want to get this title under our belts and then we will focus all our efforts on trying to preserve our unbeaten run until the very end.”

While a glorious finale to the season beckons for Valletta, Ħamrun have little left to play for bar pride.

Successive draws against Valletta and Birkirkara raised the prospect of a renewed bid for European football from the Spartans but three defeats on the spin left them languishing in sixth place, nine points adrift of the runner-up spot.

Optimism of a strong performance by Ħamrun against their old-time rivals is in scant supply as coach Stephen D’Amato has a crippling injury list.

While Dene Shields, Lee James Agius, Rupert Mangion, Jovan Vukanic, Aaron Attard and long-term absentee Martin Hrubsa are sidelined with injuries, Dyson Falzon, on loan from Valletta, is ruled out by suspension.

Falzon’s absence is a hammer blow for the Spartans after he struck a second-half equaliser in each of their last two meetings with the Whites.

“At the start of the Championship Pool, I had high hopes that the final league match against Valletta would generate the same enthusiasm that characterised encounters between these two clubs in the eighties and nineties,” D’Amato said.

“But, our negative perfor-mances in the last three games have somewhat tainted the atmosphere in our camp. I mean it’s hard for the fans to be positive after three successive defeats.

“We’re facing the strongest team in the league with a severely depleted squad and that makes our task more difficult. It’s hard to motivate the players in these circumstances but we have to find inspiration from within.

“I don’t agree with suggestions that we have nothing to play for because every point is important. If anything, we want to finish as high as possible in the table but to improve, we must end this negative run.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Fenech may have added motivation to shine against his former team today as reports suggest that a repre-sentative of a Czech club will be at the National Stadium to take a closer look at the Malta midfielder.

Results this season: Valletta vs Ħamrun Spartans 2-0, 1-1, 1-1.

Programme

Today (National Stadium)

7.30 p.m. Valletta vs Ħamrun Spartans

Tomorrow (Hibs Stadium)

3 p.m. Qormi vs Vittoriosa Stars

5 p.m. Floriana vs Marsaxlokk

Sunday (National Stadium)

3 p.m. Hibernians vs Sliema Wanderers

5 p.m. Birkirkara vs Tarxien Rainbows