Qormi will be aiming for a place in the final of the U*BET FA Trophy final for the third time in four years as they take on First Division side Lija Athletic in the first semi-final on Friday, at the National Stadium, kick-off at 19:30.

After finishing second in the Relegation Pool, Qormi are now fully focussed on making it to the final and hoping to be third-time lucky after losing 1-2 to Valletta in the 2010 final and to Hibernians 1-3 last year.

To reach this stage, Qormi defeated Second Division side Pembroke Athleta 5-2 after extra-time in the third round, champions Birkirkara 2-1 in the fourth round and Balzan 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile reaching the semi-finals is already a historic achievement for Lija Athletic who just missed promotion on the final day of the BOV First Division.

Having nothing to lose, they will be all out to upset Qormi and make this run in the competition an even more historic one by reaching the final.

They entered the competition in the second round, defeating Siggiewi 3-1. In the third round, they beat another Second Division side Gharghur 2-1, Premier League side Floriana 1-0 in the fourth round and St. Andrews from Division 1 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

Extra-time will be played if necessary and if the result is still draw, penalty kicks shall be taken in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

The second semi-finalist will emerge from the the clash between Valletta and Hibernians, scheduled for Saturday at 18:00.