Defending Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions and hosts Lekhwiya on Wednesday will be looking to build on their recent win streak when they take on Al Ahli.
 
Djamel Belmadi's side has stitched three successive wins picking up a maximum of nine points to climb to fifth spot on the QSL points table.
 
"Three wins in a row is important for the confidence of the players.
More than ever because of the difficult period that we had been experiencing before. We hadn't panicked," Belmadi said on Tuesday.
 
"We knew that there were different reasons for it. But to win is important, especially for a club that is used to winning. We just want to continue doing that," the Algerian added ahead of Wednesday's round 12 clash at Lekhwiya Stadium.
 


Belmadi said seventh-placed Al Ahli cannot be taken lightly.
 
"Ahli is a really good team. They always have a good performance against strong teams. We know what we are going to be up against and it will be a tough game," Belmadi said.
 
"We know that the three points will not come easy and we will have to work hard for it. We have conceded goals in our victories so it hasn't been easy. But we have worked hard during those matches and we have to continue doing so," he added.
 
"Last year more or less at the same time there was nine-point difference between Al Sadd and Lekhwiya. But we were able to overcome that.
 
"I am sure that the gap between us and Al Rayyan can be reduced. But I don't want to talk about the title. Two weeks ago, people were asking me a different set of questions.
 
"So the truth of yesterday is not the truth of tomorrow. We are focussing on one game at a time and then we will see where we are in two months time," a philosophical Belmadi explained.
 
Al Ahli coach Zlatko Kranjcar said not dropping points in the next round was his main goal in the coming two weeks.
 
"We are now entering the final part of the first phase of the championships. We have a few difficulties with some of our key players injured," Kranjcar said during a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
 
"We now face two big teams - Lekhwiya and Al Rayyan. Both teams are in great shape. Lekhwiya have proved their prowess in the last two games.
We all know how Al Rayyan are doing this season. But we will try to do our best in these two matches and we will be focussing on not losing these two matches," Kranjcar added.
 
Kranjcar said his team hasn't been in the best of form to avail chances that have come their way.
 
"The only thing that is missing for Ahli is the result. We have created a lot of chances during games but we haven't been able to convert them," Kranjcar said.
 
"I am not a big fan of statistics, but in our games we have enjoyed majority possession and created more chances than the opponent but we haven't done anything with those chances.
 
"If you compare this season to the last, then we had Alain Dioko who would convert these chances. But this season we haven't been able to do so. In the last couple of games we lost points in the last minutes and some decisions from the referees haven't also gone our way," he explained.
 
When asked about Alain Dioko's future availability, Kranjcar said the key striker was happy at Al Gharafa.
 
"Dioko did well with us for two seasons but then he made a choice to move to Al Gharafa this season. We are not looking to get him back,"
Kranjcar said.
 
"I believe he would like to end his career with Al Gharafa. We have our own strikers Meshal and Mubele who are the top scorers for us.
There are other players who can also step up. So we are not looking to get Dioko back," he added.
 
The game on Wednesday starts at 16:00.