Sliema Wanderers will be aiming for a third consecutive win on Sunday as they take on St. Andrews in the first of three BOV Premier League matches in programme at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
The Blues registered back-to-back wins over Gzira and Birkirkara and another win on Sunday would put them in fifth place, although Birkirkara would ahave a game in hand.
However theirs will be no easy task as St. Andrews lost just one out of the last six matches, including draws with Birkirkara and Valletta, and are coming from a fine 3-1 win over Hamrun Spartans.
Mark Scerri will be back for Sliema Wanderers after serving a one-match ban.
In the first round, St. Andrews defeated Sliema 3-0.
In the second match, Hamrun Spartans take on Tarxien Rainbows.
The Spartans, who are currently seventh, five points ahead of Tarxien, lost 1-3 to St. Andrews after back-to-back wins over Gzira and Birkirkara. Tarxien, on the other hand, won just one out of the last ten matches but held Floriana in a 1-1 draw last week.
For Hamrun, goalkeepers David Cassar and Matthew Farrugia are both injured and therefore Fredrick Tabone should start in goal while Luis Vergara Rodrigues and Raphael are both suspended. Tarxien will be without the suspended Sergio Fernandes Prendes.
Tarxien defeated Hamrun 2-1 in the first round.
In the third game, which was shifted from the Hibernians Stadium to the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Gzira United target another three precious points as they take on bottom-placed Pembroke Athleta.
In their last league outing, Gzira defeated Mosta 3-0 to move three points clear of the Blues and four ahead of Pembroke. However earlier this week, they were eliminated from the FA Trophy by First Division side Vittoriosa Stars. Pembroke, on the other hand, earned a point in a 1-1 draw with Hibernians following three consecutive defeats and defeated Sirens 2-1 in teh FA Trophy third round.
Souleymane Diamoutene serves a one-match ban for Gzira. Jhonathan Bernardo Mariano is in doubt for Pembroke.
Gzira defeated Pembroke 3-0 in the first round.