Malta takes on Angola in a friendly match at the Municipal Stadium in Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal on Saturday, kick-off at 20:30 local time (21:30 CET). 
This game will serve as preparation for the national team ahead of Wednesday’s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Portugal.
When national coach John Buttigieg named the eighteen-man squad for the trip to Portugal, foreign-based trio Justin Haber, Andrei Agius and Andre Schembri were not included. Alex Muscat and Ivan Woods also failed to make the trip as they are nursing injuries.
The only players based abroad are Maltese-Australian duo – Manny Muscat and John Hutchinson. The latter will be making his return after missing the last three games against Georgia, Cape Verde and Sweden respectively. His last appearance for Malta was in June’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden in Gothenburg.
Hutchinson is expected to make it to the starting line-up on Saturday and eventually on Wednesday. In fact, Buttigieg is expected to make two changes from the team which played Sweden with Hutchinson and Roderick Briffa replacing Alex Muscat and Jamie Pace.
The starting line-up would therefore be: Andrew Hogg – Manny Muscat, Kenneth Scicluna, Brian Said, Ian Azzopardi – Gilbert Agius, John Hutchinson – Roderick Briffa, Andrew Cohen, Shaun Bajada – Michael Mifsud.
The 18 players selected by Buttigieg are:
goalkeepers Andrew Hogg (Valletta), Mario Muscat (Hibs);
defenders Ian Azzopardi (Sliema), Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara), Jonathan Caruana (Hibs), Emmanuel Muscat (Wellington Phoenix), Brian Said (Floriana), Kenneth Scicluna (Valletta);
midfielders Gilbert Agius (Valletta), Roderick Briffa (Valletta), Clayton Failla (Sliema), Ryan Fenech (Sliema), John Hutchnson (Central Coast Mariners), George Mallia (Birkirkara), Jamie Pace (Valletta), Kevin Sammut (Valletta);
forwards Andrew Cohen (Hibs) and Michael Mifsud (unattached).
Angola are currently ranked 92nd in the FIFA World Ranking. They were among the World Cup finalists in 2006 but have already been eliminated from the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. 
Their squad includes players who ply their trade in France, Portugal and Spain.
The Angolan squad selected by coach Manuel Jose is made up of:
Lamá, Mabina, Chara, David, Job and Asha (Petro Atlético de Luanda), Mario and Joel (Interclub), Jonhson Macaba (Recreativo de Libolo), Enoque (Santos FC), Wilson (Recreativo de Caála), Kikas (Benfica de Luanda), Dias Caires (Sagrada Esperanza), Gilberto (Al Ahly), Flavio (El Shabad), André Makanga (Kuwait FC), Kali (Arles-Avignon), Mateus (Nacional Madeira), Manucho (Real Valladolid), Mantorras (Benfica), Dominiqui Kivuvu (NEC), Djalma (Marítimo), Dedé (Arles-Avignon), Zé Kalanga (Dínamo Bucharest), Hernani (Santa Clara), Stelvio (Unión de Leiria).
Angola, who will face Cameroon in another friendly match on Wednesday, are currently preparing for the African Nations Cup which they will be hosting between January 10th and 31st.