Paolites target first win over Wanderers

Two matches from the Championship Pool are scheduled for Wednesday at the National Stadium as Birkirkara take on Floriana and Hibernians face Sliema Wanderers. The two matches were originally programmed for last Saturday but were postponed as the gale force winds damaged the canopy at Ta’ Qali.

The Paolites hope to keep the pace with leaders Valletta as they face a Sliema Wanderers side which held them in two draws in the previous two rounds. Therefore the team led by Mark Miller seeks its first win over the Blues this season.

Hibs won five out of the last six matches, crushing Mqabba with a 6-1 score in their last outing.

Sliema defeated Qormi and Mosta in their last two outings after collecting just three points from the previous four matches. A win over Hibernians would put them back on track in the challenge for the title as they would enable them to close in on the top three teams.

Beppe Muscat, Ryan Fenech and Rumen Galabov will be back after serving a one-match ban. Former Sliema Wanderers midfielder Jackson Lima Siqueira returns for Hibernians after missing the last game through suspension.

Meanwhile in the first match, after dropping nine points in the last four matches, Floriana hope to end their winless streak with a win over Birkirkara.

The Greens lost to Mosta and then shared the spoils in draws with Balzan, Hibernians and Valletta. Three points against Birkirkara would put them back on track in the challenge for the title.

Birkirkara, on the other hand, seek the fourth win in four matches after defeating Tarxien and Hamrun in their last two outings.

The Stripes welcome back Rodrigo Pereira who missed the last game through suspension. On the other hand, Floriana goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo is ruled out through suspension.

In the first round, the Stripes registered a comfortable 3-0 win but the Greens won 1-0 in the second round. The two teams also met in June in the Euro Cup, sharing the spoils in a goalless draw.

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