Al Jazira will be missing 12 players from their squad for Wednesday night’s Arabian Gulf League encounter with Al Shaab.
The Abu Dhabi club, who can pull even on points with Al Shabab in second place with a victory, are missing suspended duo Abdelaziz Barrada and Khalid Sabeel, while Abdullah Mousa was injured in last week’s draw at Sharjah. He joins Hameed Al Mas, Yaqoub Yousef and Salem Masoud on an expanding injury list.
Six Jazira players have been called up to the UAE Olympic team squad, although coach Walter Zenga will hope his team has enough quality to get past Shaab, who are at the foot of the league table.
Al Wahda v Al Nasr
Al Nasr, the club vying for second place alongside Jazira and Shabab, host Al Wahda and are intent on maintaining their run of good form.
Ivan Jovanovic’s side have won five of their past seven matches, and last Friday hit Dubai club for five goals.
Ibrahima Toure, the Senegalese striker, scored twice to take his tally for the season to 14 goals in 17 appearances across all competitions.
Wahda, though, are unbeaten in the past six games.
Emirates v Al Dhafra
Emirates take on Al Dhafra knowing victory would pull their opponents, currently one place above them in 10th, closer to the relegation scrap.
However, Dhafra will be confident of scoring, given that their hosts have the second-worst defence in the league.
jmcaulaey@thenational.ae
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