The Red Knights boast a commanding six-point lead over holders Al Ain with only three games left after their 1-0 triumph in the preceding showdown between them. An unlikely slip up from the Boss at home to bottom-placed Al Shaab this evening allied with the visitors to Al Maktoum Stadium bettering that result will see a seventh top-flight crowned earned.
But for Romanian Olaroiu, he cautioned about the pitfall presented by his side’s fourth-placed opponents.
He said: “This is certainly an important game from my point of view. We face in Al Nasr a very good team.
“They are always stubborn adversaries and have players and a coach of distinction. They have proven to be difficult for any team they faced, in the domestic and Asian competitions (AFC Champions League), which I hope they advance in.
“It would be a big mistake for us if we entered the game thinking we are champions. The players realise it is not resolved yet.
“We must play in order to win and compete all the way to the finish. I met with the players and told them this matter so as not to fall into the trap, this is the most important thing for me now.”
The Dubai derby will see Blue Wave playmaker Luis Jimenez line up against the club he left last summer after four years’ service.
The 31-year-old’s brace during last weekend’s 5-2 thrashing of Bani Yas took him onto eight AGL goals, two above his tally recorded during Ahli’s wretched title defence.
“Last season at Al Ahli was very difficult – we changed a lot of players, had injuries, I played as a midfielder, on the sides, first striker,” said Jimenez, who was a key part of his former team’s 2013/14 triumph.
“I think we cannot compare seasons. I have played much better this season, because we (Nasr) play a different football.”
Al Ain should face a walkover at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium against already-relegated Shaab, who have gained just six points from 23 games during an awful top-flight return. Coach Zlatko Dalic wanted his team to keep themselves in the mix, no matter their unfavourable situation.
“Our fortunes are still lingering, but they have shrunk,” said the Croatian ahead of his 100th match in charge. “The big difference can be based on the results of others and we are required to win all the remaining games.
“If we win all our games, we will reach 62 points. That will be more than the 60 points from last season, when we won the title.”
Meanwhile, ailing UAE giants Al Jazira welcome second-bottom Fujairah to Abu Dhabi, with points of any kind crucial for the visitors’ hopes of not being relegated on Sunday.
Eid Baroot’s side are six points adrift and possess inferior head-to-head records to Sharjah and Emirates Club, who sit just outside the drop zone. They will take solace in their 4-0 thrashing of the Pride of Abu Dhabi during the reverse fixture and the host’s run of six losses from their last 10 games in all competitions.
“I don’t know what the reason for the bad run is,” Jazira striker Kenwyne Jones said of his team’s recent bad run, although they have won five of their last seven in the AGL.
“Maybe it’s because we’re already safe in the league so we don’t have maybe motivation to go on. But at the same time we have to be as professional as possible and win every game we play, because we have some tough games coming up.
“We just have to focus on our next game and take it from there.”
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