Sliema Wanderers vs Hibernians (today at 1 p.m., Tedesco Stadium).
A fascinating encounter is in prospect between these two heavyweights of Maltese football.
Sliema Wanderers have a tough job on their hands as they must contend with Premier League leaders Hibernians.
The Wanderers, who have won the FA Trophy 18 times, are passing through a bleak patch after two successive league defeats. A win over Hibs would not only help to lift Sliema's spirits, it would also bolster their chances of a return to European football next season.
Coach Stephen Azzopardi will surely demand a vast improvement from his players after their opaque display n the 1-0 defeat to Tarxien Rainbows last Sunday.
Veteran defender Jeffrey Chetcuti is expected to be recalled to Sliema's starting formation after serving a one-match ban but Serbian-born defender Branko Nisevic is rated as doubtful after picking up a knock against the Rainbows.
Hibs coach Mark Miller is sweating over the fitness of defenders Aaron Xuereb and Jonathan Caruana and midfielder Jonathan Pearson.
Sunday's 1-1 draw with Floriana was seen as a disappointing result for the Paolites in some quarters but Miller's men are unbeaten in their last four league matches.
Against the Wanderers, Miller can bank on the scoring prowess of chief striker Terrence Scerri and Andrew Cohen who have netted 19 goals between them so far this season.
Tarxien Rainbows vs Birkirkara (today at 2 p.m., Hibs Ground).
Up to a few weeks ago, the cup quarter-final between holders Birkirkara and Premier League newcomers Tarxien Rainbows was considered as a no-contest with the Stripes seen as firm favourites to advance to the last four.
This is no longer the case as the Rainbows' revival of late has quashed any suggestions of an easy outing for the Stripes this afternoon.
Birkirkara go into the match high on confidence after last weekend's thrilling 3-2 win over the Spartans but coach John Buttigieg will expect a stronger defensive performance from his players.
Full concentration and good covering at the back are a must if Birkirkara are to stop Tarxien's lethal forward Daniel Mariano Bueno from complicating their progress to the semi-finals.
The arrival of David Camilleri appears to have added more stability to Noel Coleiro's team whose morale is high after two straight wins in the league.
The Stripes have almost a full squad for this match with defender Lee Lombardi the only absentee as he is still recovering from a hernia operation.
Tarxien's Coleiro is hampered by the absence of attacking midfielder Denni Dos Santos who picked up an injury in the 1-0 win over Sliema last weekend. Andrew Decesare is rated as doubtful with a knee injury.
Hamrun Spartans vs Marsaxlokk (today at 5 p.m., National Stadium).
Hamrun Spartans and Marsaxlokk will be looking to gain a much-needed confidence boost when they clash in what promises to be a balanced quarter-final.
Both the Spartans and the Blues have had a disappointing 2008-09 campaign so far and their main objective for the rest of the season is to avoid relegation.
Faced with such a grim scenario, a place in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy would bolster confidence as Hamrun and Marsaxlokk seek to maintain their flickering hopes of European football next season.
Marsaxlokk and Hamrun have already met twice this season. The southerners won the first-round fixture 4-2 but the Spartans gained revenge in the return fixture with a pulsating 4-3 win.
Patrick Curmi, the Marsaxlokk coach, is sure to be without new signing Chris Camilleri who suffered a muscle injury in his debut against Hibernians while goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin is nursing a dislocated finger.
Hamrun coach Steve D'Amato also has his fair share of injury problems as Neville Galea and Keith Fabri are out with injuries while Aaron Attard and Steve Meilaq are struggling with knocks.
On the plus side, brothers Ryan and Roderick Fenech will return for the Spartans after missing the 3-2 defeat to Birkirkara due to suspension.