Leaders Birkirkara will be all out to claim the three points on Sunday as they take on Hibernians in one of the two BOV Premier League matches in programme at the National Stadium.

Birkirkara lie two points ahead of second-placed and a win over the Paolites would put them once again five points clear. They won seventeen out of the last eighteen matches and are coming from a 3-1 win over Sliema on Tuesday.

Hibernians are currently joint-third on 27 points with Sliema, eight points behind Valletta and ten behind Birkirkara. They returned to winning ways last week, beating Balzan 4-2 after losing the previous two matches.

Ryan Camilleri is ruled out through suspension while Zoran Levnajic is recovering from an injury. Birkirkara could not count on the injured Rowen Muscat.

Hibernians won the first round match 1-0 while the second round clash ended in a 2-1 win for the Stripes. Birkirkara had also defeated Hibernians 3-2 in the BOV Super Cup.

Meanwhile in the first match, Naxxar Lions will be desperate for points as they take on Floriana in a clash from the Relegation Pool.

Naxxar lost six of the last seven matches, earning only a point in a draw with Rabat and following Tarxien and Qormi’s wins on Saturday, they are now third from bottom, just two points ahead of Vittoriosa. In their last outing, they suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat to Qormi.

Floriana are currently joint-second in the Relegation Pool, two points ahead of Naxxar and a win is a must in order to stay away from danger. In their last outing, they lost 0-3 to Tarxien.

For Naxxar, Andrew Decesare is suspended.

Naxxar and Floriana shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the first round but the second round clash ended in a 1-0 win for Floriana.

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