CAIRO: Competition for second place intensifies as four teams vie to close the gap on Egyptian Premier League leaders Ahly.
Petrojet, Zamalek, Ismaili and Gaish are all out to enhance their respective positions in the table, following Ahly s 2-0 win over Masri on Wednesday.
The top match of the week though takes place in Cairo as the unstoppable Zamalek clash with close rivals Gaish.
Farouk Gaafar s Gaish look to maintain their significant supremacy over the Whites, who lost three times to the military side in the last five encounters.
But Gaafar and Co. will not face an easy task playing away against a team on a seven-match winning streak.
Zamalek have obviously progressed under Hossam Hassan, but we are only looking for a win, Gaafar, a Zamalek legend, said.
We enter this game with our eyes focused on third place.
Zamalek regain the services of Egypt full-back Mohamed Abdul-Shafi, who is set to replace Sabri Rahil on the left flank.
Winger Hazem Emam returned to the squad after missing out lately due to personal issues. But defense duo Ahmed Ghanem and Amr Al-Safti are both suspended.
Gaish have Walid Aslan, Abdul-Sattar Sabri and ex-Zamalek duo Amer Sabri and Hossam Abdul-Aal back from injury, but Salah Amin has yet to recover.
Other Matches
In another top-half-of-the-table clash, Military Production host Petrojet, who are in danger of losing second place if they fail to win again.
On the other hand, Tarek Yehia s Production can jump to fifth place if they grabbed the three points in Cairo.
In Ismailia, the Dervishes host Ittihad in a must-win match for the home side, who are just a couple of points adrift of Petrojet.
Finally, mid-tablers ENPPI visit Ghazl Mahalla as the latter could make a huge move out of the relegation zone with a home win.
