Dubai: Al Ahli host Sharjah on Sunday in a crucial match in the etisalat first division league at Rashid stadium in Dubai.
Sharjah stand third in the league with 32 points, two adrift of leaders Al Shabab, while Al Ahli are fourth with 29 points and a game in hand.
Al Ahli, already suffering from the absence of key defenders Obaid Khalifa, Mohammad Qasim through injury, have Khalid Mohammad and Abdullah Ahmad suspended.
It will therefore prove a tough test for Al Ahli's reserve defenders, who face Sharjah's sharpshooters, Brazilian Anderson and Iranian Masaoud Shojai in addition to Nawaf Mubarak and Saeed Alkas.
Excellent form
Al Ahli will be relying on attackers Faisal Khalil and his brother Ahmad, Iranian Milad Midawdi, Esmail Al Hammady, Salim Khamis and Brazilian midfielders Cezar and Aussansao to make the breakthrough.
Goalkeepers Obaid Taweela of Al Ahli and Sharjah's Mahmoud Al Mass will play a significant part in their team's fortunes. Both have been in excellent form in the league.
In the second key league crunch, Al Wahda meet Al Jazira tomorrow in the Abu Dhabi local derby.
Al Wahda will be looking to escape relegation. They lie third from bottom with 15 points.
But Al Jazira will be hoping to take all three points and stay in the title hunt. They are currently second with 32 points, two behind the leaders.
Both teams lost two valuable points last week with Al Jazira drawing 4-4 against Al Nasr, and Al Wahda squandering a 4-2 lead against Al Wasl in Dubai to end 4-4.
Al Jazira defender Rashid Abdul Rahman returns to the team after a three-match suspension, while goalkeeper Ali Khasif is still suspended.
Leaders Al Shabab (34 points) travel today to the western region of Abu Dhabi to meet Al Dhafra.
A win today would keep them in line for the title, but the home team (21 points) will be looking to secure all three points to place them in safe waters.
Al Nasr (22 points), who haven't won in their last five matches, will be hoping for a change in fortune when they host bottom club Hatta (13 point) today at the Al Maktoum stadium. Hatta lost last week at home to Emirates, severely denting their hopes of remaining in the first division.
Al Shaab, who are fifth with 27 points, fought hard last week with nine players to snatch a precious away point from Al Shabab, but are missing key defenders Khalid Saqr and Rashid Dossary, who were sent off last week, for their clash against Al Wasl on Sunday.
Al Wasl (23 points) are also missing three key players, Brazilian strikers Oliviera and Diaz and defender Sami Rabea, all suspended.
Emirates (14 points) will be looking to escape relegation when they host Al Ain (26 point). The only way for the team to stay in the top flight is to win their last four matches and hope Al Wahda lose at least one.
Schedule
Today's matches: 6pm: Al Nasr v Hatta, Al Dhafra v Al Shabab. 8.35pm: Al Ahli v Sharjah.
Monday matches: 5:55 pm: Emirates v Al Ain. 6pm: Al Shaab v Al Wasl. 8.40pm: Al Wahda v Al Jazira.
