The QNB Stars League’s Week 14 fixtures on Saturday are Umm Salal vs Al Ahli (Al Gharafa Stadium, 16:30), Al Khor vs Al Kharaitiyat (Al Khor Stadium, 16:30) and Al Duhail vs Al Rayyan (Al Duhail Stadium, 18:40).

Umm Salal vs Al Ahli

Umm Salal have had a good start to the league’s second phase by getting the better of Al Kharaitiyat, just like they did in the first. Though they lost to in-form Al Gharafa in the last round, The Orange Fortress will look to storm back into the top four by putting it across Al Ahli.

Umm Salal have 19 points, just one behind fourth-placed Al Sailiya.

New recruit and Tunisian attacking midfielder Oussama Darragi is to lead their charge, supported by Mahmoud Mawas, Yannick Sagbo and Maher Yousef.

Al Ahli will be bolstered by the return from injury of Tunisian attacking midfielder Yassine Chikhaoui. He had missed their last-round match with Al Khor, which ended in a 2-2 draw, due to muscle cramp.

However, The Brigadiers will again miss striker Mohammed Muntari, who has yet to recover from an injury.

Al Ahli, on 15 points, had lost 0-2 to Umm Salal in the first phase.

Al Khor vs Al Kharaitiyat

Al Khor will have the services of Khalifa Abubakr, one of the top goalkeepers in the QNB Stars League, on loan from Al Duhail. The swap deal followed goalkeeper Amin Lecomte’s recent return to Al Duhail after his loan term ended with Al Khor.

Tunisian coach Nassif Al Bawayi is capable of bringing the best out of his wards, especially since they are normally tricky opponents when they play at home.

Al Kharaitiyat had given title contenders Al Rayyan a late scare before going down 2-4 last week. Lack of consistency is proving to be the bane of Ahmad Al Ajlani’s side and it is time The Thunders pulled up their socks if they are not to be relegated.

Al Khor have 11 points and Al Kharaitiyat nine. Their first-phase game had ended in a 1-1 draw.

Al Duhail vs Al Rayyan

The trio of QNB Stars League’s top scorers Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi (19 goals), captain and Tunisian attacking midfielder Youssef Msakni (11), and South Korean playmaker Nam Tae-Hee (seven), who all had a rather subdued game in the last round as midfielder Karim Boudiaf netted their winner against Al Arabi, can certainly create problems for the Al Rayyan defence.

The Red Knights will miss striker Almoez Ali who had an outstanding game for Qatar at the Asian Under-23 Championship in China. Al Duhail had won the first-phase match 5-3. So Al Rayyan will also be keen to avenge that.

Al Duhail are leading the standings with 35 points, while Al Rayyan have 31.

Al Rayyan’s top scorers are attacking midfielder Rodrigo Tabata (10), Moroccan forward Abderrazaq Hamdallah (nine) and striker Sebastian Soria (seven).

The Lions will be without suspended midfielder Daniel Gumbo, who picked up his fourth yellow card during their 4-2 win over Al Kharaitiyat in Week 13.