Floriana, Hibernians aim at returning to winning ways

Floriana and Hibernians will be hoping to start 2018 in a better way than they ended 2017 as they take on Tarxien Rainbows and Hamrun Spartans respectively in the two matches in programme at the National Stadium on Sunday.

The Greens are currently fourth but lost two out of the last three matches after maintaining an unbeaten run of eleven matches. In their last outing, they lost 0-2 to Birkirkara. They do start as firm favourites to take the three points home, considering that they face a Tarxien Rainbows side which lost six out of the last seven matches and are currently joint-second from bottom on 10 points.

Sebastian Nayar is set to make his return for Floriana after a spell in Gibraltar but Enzo Ruiz is suspended. Luke Grech serves a one-match ban for Tarxien.

Floriana registered a 5-0 win in the first round.

In the second match, Hibernians hope to bounce back from back-to-back defeats to Balzan and St. Andrews as they take on Hamrun Spartans who are coming from two wins in the last three matches and lie just one point behind them.

Portuguese striker João Moreira is set to make his debut for the Paolites who have now also welcomed back Jorge Pereira da Silva following a spell with Al Khaleej in Saudi Arabia.

Hibernians defeated Hamrun 1-0 in the first round.