Sliema Wanderers vs Birkirkara (Monday at 19.30, National Stadium).

Birkirkara’s hopes of starting their title defence with a victory suffered a huge setback yesterday with the news that four of their players had been banned for brawling with Valletta officials after the end of the BOV Super Cup match last month.

Shaun Bajada, Paul Fenech and Patrick Borg have been suspended for two matches while Serbian defender Nikola Vukanac has received a three-match ban.

“It’s a big blow for us,” Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit said.

“In the last two months, I was unable to prepare the team as I wished due to injuries and the national team’s commitments.

“Now these suspensions have complicated matters for us. We are starting the league season with a massive handicap.”

Apart from the suspended quartet, Zammit is also sweating on the fitness of Alan Tabone and Rowen Muscat. Karl Pulo must serve a one-match ban after being red-carded in extra-time of the Super Cup match.

The Stripes’ woes will have boosted Sliema’s confidence ahead of Monday’s encounter but coach Mark Marlow struck a cautious note.

“I’m not paying much attention to Birkirkara’s problems,” Marlow said.

“I always study the opponents, moreso if they are a top team like Birkirkara who are the current champions but I prefer to focus on our gameplan and the performance of my team.”

Marlow increased his pool of foreign players to six after Sliema offered a contract to Brazilian striker Jackson Lima.

Steve Bezzina, signed on a season-long loan from Valletta, is sidelined with injury while Malta wing-back Alex Muscat is recovering from a cruciate operation.