Ħamrun Spartans face a mammoth task to keep their Championship Pool hopes alive this afternoon as they have no option but to send out a weakened team for their showdown with title favourites Valletta (kick-off 4 p.m.).
A 2-1 setback to Qormi on Monday has put a dent on the Spartans' erstwhile brave bid for a top-six finish and news that three first-choice players, namely Rupert Mangion, Roderick Fenech and Ian Zammit, are out of the City clash through suspension, has further complicated matters for them.
Valletta have long sealed their place in the Championship Pool but this only represents a small step on the road they hope would lead them to league glory come May.
The Citizens have taken 10 points from their last four matches but their two-all draw with Tarxien Rainbows on Sunday ought to have emboldened their motivation to regain their winning touch at the expense of the Spartans.
Ton Caanen, the Valletta coach, acknowledged that the absence of three important players is a blow for Ħamrun but he still expects his team's opponents to put up a strong fight.
"Ħamrun deserve to be still fighting for a place in the Championship Pool after 16 games," Caanen said. "They have done well to gain 20 points but for this game, they have three important players missing. That said, Ħamrun have a balanced team and they have shown that, on their day, they can make it difficult for anyone.
"The last two rounds of matches before the end of the first phase of the league campaign will be interesting because up to five teams are still challenging for a place in the Championship Pool. Only Dingli Swallows and Msida St Joseph are out of contention.
"Ħamrun know that if they lose against us, they will be out of the race. We also want to win this match but we're not under added pressure, even if people always expect Valletta to prevail."
Luke Dimech, back from suspension, is expected to fill the void left by Kenneth Scicluna who received a one-match ban in midweek. Otherwise, Caanen has no selection worries.
Sunday's draw against Tarxien was widely perceived as a minor blip for Valletta but Caanen is not unduly concerned about his team's failure to take maximum points from their last outing.
"People didn't give Tarxien the credit they deserve for their result against us," Caanen said. "The main reason Valletta didn't win the three points was because Tarxien played good football and were aggressive. They obtained a point thanks to what I call a 'Sunday shot' by David Camilleri but the result was perhaps fair.
"There is no reason to be negative about Valletta's form because we have taken 10 points from the last four matches. The players are focused and fully motivated for the next game. Our target is to claim six points from the next two matches and start the Championship Pool on top."
Ħamrun's 2-1 upset to Qormi may have undermined their top-six chances but it has done nothing to dampen coach Steve D'Amato's satisfaction at his team's recent progress.
"Our performances over the past month have been very positive," D'Amato told The Times. "We didn't play to the maximum of our potential against Qormi but we still had enough chances to force a draw."
Apart from the suspended trio, D'Amato is also plagued by the long-term absence of midfielder Jonathan Holland who has a hamstring injury. In Zammit's case, his one-match ban has denied him the chance to show his worth against the team he left last month to join the Spartans on loan until the end of the season.
D'Amato is backing the fringe players to step up to the challenge of replacing the absent regulars.
"I trust that the players who will deputise for those who are suspended will do their best to prove themselves and to help the team gain a positive result."
The Spartans coach also believes that his side's plucky display in the 3-2 defeat to Valletta in the first round, is a source of encouragement for his troops.
"In the first round match, we fell two goals behind but the players showed great fighting spirit to come back and level matters," D'Amato said.
"We ended up losing 3-2 but not many teams have fought back from two goals down against Valletta. The pressure is on them because they are the favourites."
With only two games left before the end of the first phase, Ħamrun trail the sixth-placed Tarxien by two points.
"Tarxien are the favourites to qualify for the Championship Pool because they have a two-point advantage over Floriana and us but everything is still possible," D'Amato said.
"There are two matches left and if Tarxien lose to Hibs and we beat Valletta, the whole scenario will change. Our aim is to gain as many points as we can from the last two matches to strengthen our position in the table."
First round - Valletta vs Ħamrun 3-2.