The QNB Stars League’s Week 15 fixtures on Saturday are Al Khor vs Al Gharafa (Al Khor Stadium, 16:35) and Qatar SC vs Al Sadd (Qatar SC Stadium, 18:45).

Al Khor vs Al Gharafa

Al Gharafa, sixth with 17 points, would be keen to get back to winning ways after their two-match victory march was halted by Al Sadd last week.

The Cheetahs had registered back-to-back wins against Al Ahli and Umm Salal ever since the second phase of QNB Stars League started.

Turkish coach Bulent Uygun said at the pre-match Press conference that they had rectified some errors post-Al Sadd game. Justifiably, Al Gharafa received a major confidence boost when they qualified for the AFC Champions League proper by getting the better of Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor in play-off in Doha on Tuesday.

Dutch attacking midfielder and FIFA World Cup runner-up Wesley Sneijder leads their charge. Another new recruit, Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi, is a doubtful starter as he is nursing an injury.

Al Khor, eighth in the standings on 14 points, will look to build on their victory over Al Kharaitiyat in the last round.

They had recruited a host of youngsters in the just-concluded transfer window, but Brazilian midfielder Madson is their trump card.

Al Gharafa had won 3-0 in the first phase.

Qatar SC vs Al Sadd

Both teams have prepared in earnest for the highlight fixture of the QNB Stars League’s Week 15.

Al Sadd overcame a disappointing start to their second-phase campaign, when they were held goalless by Al Markhiya, by recording thumping wins over Al Sailiya and Al Gharafa.

The Wolves are second with 34 points, two less than Al Duhail. They will miss the services of in-form Algerian attacking midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun, who scored a brace in their last two matches, due to suspension.

Ace Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah, who had a long injury layoff, had joined the team’s training, but is a doubtful starter.

However, they have the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Hassan Al Haydous, Ali Assad, and new recruits Akram Afif, Hamed Ismail and Abdelkarim Hassan to deliver the goods.

Qatar SC, ninth with 12 points, are a reinvigorated side after changing three of their four overseas recruits. Patrick Fabiano, Osama Omari and Luis Jimenez, who replaced injured Iranian Sajad Mujtaba, joined Bruno Gallo and Abdullah Mubarak’s men have a new-found confidence.

Al Sadd had won 3-1 in the first phase.