Bottom-placed Zebbug Rangers and Pietà Hotspurs hope to collect precious points in the battle against relegation as they take on Birkirkara and Naxxar Lions in the two matches in programme on Sunday at the Hibernians Stadium. Zebbug and Pietà share the bottom-place with 12 points, three behind Qormi and five behind Tarxien.

In the first match, Zebbug hope to end their losing streak with a positive result against Birkirkara after losing the last six matches. They are coming from a 1-4 defeat to Balzan.

The Stripes are coming from a 2-2 draw with Qormi in their last outing but a win over Zebbug would put them back in second place following Valletta’s 3-3 draw with Sliema.

Mauricio Mazzetti and Joseph Zerafa are ruled out through suspension for Birkirkara like David
Alejandro Reano of Zebbug.

In the first round, Birkirkara defeated Zebbug 4-0 with the second round clash ending in a 3-1 win for Paul Zammit’s side.

Meanwhile in the second match, Pietà take on Naxxar, hoping to claim the three points after losing six of the last seven matches, earning only one point in the process.

However their job will be no easy one as Naxxar need the three points to move further away from the danger zone as they lie fifth from bottom, just three points away from tenth-placed Qormi.

Naxxar beat Pietà 4-0 in the first round but the second round clash ended in a 1-1 draw.