Following Hibernians’ 1-1 draw with Pembroke Athleta on Saturday, leaders Valletta hope to move six points clear as they take on Mosta in one of the two BOV Premier League matches in programme at the National Stadium on Sunday.

The Citizens won the last nine matches to extend their unbeaten run to sixteen matches and another win on Sunday would not only enable them to extend this positive run but also put them closer to the championship.

Mosta lie in a rather comfortable mid-table position, twelve points ahead of the relegation zone. They lost three out of the last five matches, losing 0-3 to Hibernians last week.

Roderick Briffa is suspended for Valletta but Uchenna Umeh will be back after serving a one-match ban.

In the first round, Mosta held Valletta in a 2-2 draw but Valletta registered a 3-0 win in the second.

Meanwhile in the first match, Birkirkara hope to close in on third-placed Balzan as they take on Naxxar Lions.

A win for the Stripes would put them just one point behind Balzan in the battle for a place in the UEFA Europa League this summer. They won four out of the last five matches, defeating Sliema Wanderers 2-1 last week. Naxxar, on the other hand, are still joint-second from bottom. The Lions lost their last five matches, conceding no less than twenty-seven and scoring none.

However ironically Naxxar held Birkirkara in a 2-2 draw in the second round – a match which eventually led to the sacking of Birkirkara coach Giovanni Tedesco.

Naxxar welcome back captain Andrew Scicluna but goalkeeper Luke Pecorella is ruled out through suspension. On the other hand, Mauricio Mazzetti should be back for Birkirkara.

In the first round, Birkirkara defeated Naxxar 4-0.