CAIRO: Ahly’s talismanic playmaker Mohamed Abou-Trika is not concerned yet with his side’s potential Egyptian Cup clash against arch-rivals Zamalek.
Both sides are expected to overcome lower division teams and meet in the second round of the competition, which begins later this month.
Ahly, who eye the domestic double after winning a sixth consecutive Egyptian Premier League title, open their campaign against Nabaroh while Zamalek take on Fayoum.
"We should respect Nabaroh and not underestimate them," Abou-Trika, whose season was disrupted by injury and fitness problems, said on Ahly’s official website on Monday.
"We are taking it one game at a time. It will be illogical if we started to think about a potential game against Zamalek before even beating Nabaroh.
"We want first to get beyond the round of 32 and then we can think about Zamalek if they also win their game."
Abou-Trika is yet to regain top form after recovering from a serious foot injury that ruled him out of Egypt’s triumphant African Cup of Nations campaign last January in Angola.
He scored six goals in the Premier League as the Red Devils claimed their 35th title with three matches to spare.
Ahly won their last Egyptian Cup title in 2007 after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Zamalek in a remarkable clash.
Zamalek won the last of their 21 cup titles in 2008 after beating ENPPI in the final.
