Sliema Wanderers will be upbeat about their chances of claiming their first victory of the season this evening when they take on Msida St Joseph at the National Stadium (kick-off 18.00).
Billed among the potential challengers for the title, Sliema have endured a poor start to the season after losing their first two matches.
The Blues thought they had launched their campaign on the right footing when they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Vittoriosa Stars but that match has since been invalidated after the latter were demoted from the Premier League for match-fixing.
After the match that never was, Sliema suffered successive 1-0 defeats to Qormi and Valletta but coach Stephen Azzopardi ought to have drawn encouragement from his side's brave performance against the Citizens last Friday.
Azzopardi is expected to choose a more attacking strategy for today's match.
Nigerian striker Henry Isaac had six stitches in his head after an aerial duel in the final stages of Friday's match but he's available to play. Clifford Gatt Baldacchino has a groin strain and is doubtful.
Msida, who have replaced Vittoriosa in the top flight, started their league commitments with a 3-0 defeat to Qormi last Saturday.
Mark Marlow knows that his team face a tall order to gain something from their clash with Sliema but the young coach will be hoping that his players show better composure and determination than they did in their upset to Qormi.
Olushola Aganun sat out Msida's opening match due to a delay in the arrival of his international transfer certificate from Austria.
Msida are hoping to receive the important document so that they can file Aganun's registration in time for him to play against Sliema.
Karl Ebejer and Iro Curmi, signed on loan from Birkirkara, are also expected to make their first appearance for Msida this evening but Marlow has to make do without three other players, namely Adrian Farrugia, who is still recovering from a virus, Neville Arpa (flu) and Ryan Xuereb (ankle).
Spirited Spartans
Hibs are seen as favourites to stretch their winning start to two matches but Ħamrun Spartans' battling performance in the 2-1 loss to Birkirkara suggests that the champions will not have an easy time tonight (20.00).
The Paolites began their title defence with a hard-earned 2-1 win over Dingli Swallows on Sunday.
Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, can't bank on a full complement as Aaron Xuereb, Adrian Pulis and Ben Camilleri are still sidelined with injuries.
Tristan Caruana is expected to earn a recall after missing Sunday's match because of illness.
Ħamrun's frustration at their 2-1 defeat to Birkirkara was compounded by the late dismissal of Manolito Micallef who is suspended. The former Floriana midfielder also suffered a foot injury in what insiders described as a freak dressing-room incident after Saturday's game at the National Stadium.
Jonathan Holland (groin) and Clyde Camoin (hamstring) are out of the picture but on the plus side, goalkeeper Ivan Casha is back in the reckoning after serving his one-match ban. Johnny Debattista is also expected to return for the Spartans.
Stephen D'Amato, the Ħamrun coach, has yet to sign a third foreign player but he's expected to choose between two Nigerian-born forwards who are currently on trial with the club.
The Spartans' other overseas players are Brazilian forward Marcelo Pereira and Czech defender Martin Hrubsa.