Ħamrun Spartans will have their eyes set on securing their top-flight status for another year as they seek to avoid defeat against Mosta in today’s opening match at the National Stadium (kick-off: 6pm).
After an encouraging start to the campaign, the Spartans lost their early momentum after the turn of the new year as a poor run of ten matches without a win saw them drop to just one place off the bottom two places in the standings.
With only four matches remaining, Jacques Scerri’s Spartans need a point to attain mathematical certainty and make sure of a second successive season in the top flight.
The Spartans coach, however, said his team will not get distracted on pre-match calculations as he is urging his players to go out and beat Mosta.
“The team is only 90 minutes away from making sure of avoiding the drop and we are fully focused on finishing the job against Mosta,” Scerri told the Times of Malta.
“In the last few weeks, the team has been blowing hot and cold and our inconsistency has cost us some valuable points.
“But now we must put our previous performances behind us and dedicate all our energies on this match. I’m confident that we can beat Mosta. That will give us a better opportunity to start thinking for next season.”
Ħamrun are hampered by a few injury problems as goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia, defender Philip Chircop and Trevor Cilia are sidelined. Defender Jorginho will undergo a late fitness test as he is struggling with a pulled hamstring.
Midfielder Luke Sciberras is definitely out as he must serve a one-match ban.
Mosta come into the match on a positive note as last week’s 3-1 win over Tarxien Rainbows saw them open a comfortable lead over bottom-placed Pembroke Athleta.
Coach Johann Scicluna said Mosta’s priority is to try and pick as many points as possible from their last four matches. If they fail to leapfrog Ħamrun, they want to make sure that they reach the play-off against the fourth-placed team in Division One in good shape.
“We are fully aware of our situation in the standings,” Scicluna said.
“It looks highly unlikely that we can overtake Ħamrun even if we had to win all our remaining matches.
“But not all is lost. I want my players to build on confidence and that will set us up nicely for the play-off at the end of the season.”
Scicluna must make at least one change from the team that beat the Rainbows last week as goalkeeper Yenz Cini is suspended.
Results so far: Mosta vs Ħamrun Spartans 2-5, 0-3.
Old firm clash
In today’s late kick-off, Floriana will be looking to revive their hopes of a top-four finish when facing Old Firm rivals Sliema Wanderers (kick-off: 8pm).
The Greens will be looking to bridge the gap on fourth-placed Birkirkara who they trail by four points. But Giovanni Tedesco’s men face an arduous test as Sliema twice beat Floriana this season.
In fact, the Wanderers won both league meetings with an identical 3-1 scoreline and will surely fancy their chances of making it three in a row on their old-time rivals.
Tedesco will be boosted with the return from suspension of goalkeeper Justin Haber and midfielder Steve Pisani.
The Wanderers will have chief goalscorer Jean Paul Farrugia back after missing the 2-0 win over Ħamrun to serve suspension.
Results so far: Sliema Wanderers vs Floriana 3-1, 3-1.