Balzan out to regain fourth place

After Floriana were held in a goalless draw by Qormi on Thursday, Balzan will be all out to regain the fourth place as they take on bottom-placed Tarxien Rainbows in one of the two matches in programme at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Friday.

Balzan defeated Sliema 2-1 in their last outing and a win against Tarxien would enable them to leapfrog Floriana. However the Rainbows are desperate for points after suffering five successive defeats in their last five matches.

For Balzan, Lydon Micallef and Elkin Serrano Valero are suspended but Justin Grioli will be back after serving a one-match ban. Tarxien will be without Manu Bonaque but Edu Vallecillo and Mouhamed Soly will be back after missing the last game.

Balzan defeated Tarxien 3-2 and 5-0 in the previous rounds.

Meanwhile in the second match, Zebbug Rangers target a positive result after losing four out of the last five matches as they take on Sliema Wanderers. The Blues lie in a rather comfortable mid-table position although they suffered defeats to Birkirkara and Balzan in their last two outings.

Sliema will be lacking the suspended Pedrinho, Trevor Cilia and Michael Mifsud and the injured Stefano Bianciardi. Zebbug, on the other hand, are expected to be in full strength.

Sliema defeated Zebbug 1-0 but the Rangers won 2-1 in the second round.