Engaged in a battle for automatic promotion from League D Group 2, Malta and Moldova will clash in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday.
After the visitors won September's reverse fixture before beating Andorra earlier this week, Malta trail by three points in the standings - and they are without a permanent manager.
Match preview
Having lost 2-0 in Chisinau at the start of their latest Nations League campaign, Malta could not afford to slip up against Andorra in their second game if automatic promotion to League C was to remain a realistic prospect.
Ryan Camenzuli struck on the stroke of half time in Andorra la Vella, which proved enough to secure maximum points and keep the Reds in contention for top spot.
Having come up short in the last Nations League - when home and away defeats to Estonia cost them a shot at moving up a tier - this year, Michele Marcolini's men were intent on securing first place; however, the Italian coach has since been sacked.
Now under interim management, second would still secure a playoff, so Malta merely have to finish above pointless Andorra in order to keep their hopes alive.
Ahead of a home game against the Andorrans next month, Malta must first reconvene with Moldova, who they have beaten just once in the nations' last six meetings.
While their hosts lost all eight Euro 2024 qualifiers, Moldova almost became the lowest-ranked nation ever to qualify for a major tournament, taking four points off Poland, and holding eventual qualifiers Albania and Czech Republic to draws.
Qualification went down to the wire in a winner-takes-all encounter against the Czechs, but a 3-0 defeat ultimately ended any dreams of reaching the finals.
Such a run of results indicated that the Tricolorii would be favourites to finish first in Group 2, and so far they have lived up to that status.
After beating Malta last month, Serghei Clescenco's side were 2-0 winners at home to Andorra on Thursday night, with experienced midfielder Artur Ionita putting them ahead on the half-hour mark before a late Maxim Cojocaru strike sealed the deal.
Having missed out on promotion by the narrowest of margins in 2022, matching Latvia's 13-point tally but losing out on goal difference, Moldova now have their destiny within their own hands: another win would guarantee League C football next time around.
Team News
After Malta's scheduled friendly against Turkmenistan was cancelled when the away side were denied permission to travel by their own government, interim boss Davide Mazzotta comes into this crucial contest cold.
He has named a 26-man squad ahead of Sunday's game at Ta' Qali National Stadium, blending experience with some fresh talent, such as uncapped teenage defender Mattias Ellul.
As ever, Reims midfielder Teddy Teuma should run the Reds' engine room, while captain Henry Bonello starts in goal.
Meanwhile, Moldova are without their talisman this week, as Heerenveen striker Ion Nicolaescu - the country's all-time top scorer on 16 international goals - was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Head coach Serghei Clescenco must therefore rely on Vitalie Damascan to lead the visitors' attack, most likely flanked by wide men Mihail Caimacov and Artur Ionita.
Malta possible starting lineup:
Bonello; J. Borg, Muscat, Shaw; Zammit Lonardelli, J. Mbong, Guillaumier, Teuma, Camenzuli; P. Mbong, Montebello
Moldova possible starting lineup:
Celeadnic; Craciun, Mudrac, Babohlo; Platica, Rata, Motpan, Reabciuk; Caimacov, Damascan, Ionita
We say: Malta 1-2 Moldova
Now a big fish in a small pond at League D level, Moldova can do the double over managerless Malta and earn automatic promotion in the process.
The visitors are on a three-match winning streak and can use that momentum to get them over the line in Ta' Qali.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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