The QNB Stars League Week 18 matches will be played on Wednesday, 27th February, Thursday, 28th February, and Friday, 1st March. Two games are scheduled for each day.

The fixtures are Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Gharafa (18:00) at Al Khor Stadium, Al Shahania vs Al Rayyan (20:10) at Al Arabi Stadium on Wednesday, Al Duhail vs Al Ahli (18:00) at Al Duhail Stadium, Al Sadd vs Qatar SC (20:10) at Al Sadd Stadium on Thursday, Al Sailiya vs Al Arabi (16:50) at Al Ahli Stadium and Al Khor vs Umm Salal (19:15) at Al Khor Stadium on Friday.

Al Kharaitiyat take on Al Gharafa in the opener on a confident note, having beaten Umm Salal last week for only their second victory in the tournament.

Incidentally, Al Kharaitiyat’s other victory was against Al Gharafa in Week 7.

The Thunders are still at the bottom of the table with six points and face relegation as 11th-placed team Al Khor have 12 points.

Al Gharafa’s confidence is also high as they are coming off a creditable goalless draw against reigning champions Al Duhail. The Cheetahs are eighth with 19 points.

Al Shahania and Al Rayyan both suffered defeat in the last round, so they will be keen to get back to winning path when they clash against each other at the Al Arabi Stadium, where Al Shahania play their home matches.

Al Rayyan are fourth (30 points) and Al Shahania ninth (17 points).

Al Duhail (40) lag behind Al Sadd by four points in the second place, but are still in the title race. The Red Knights will look for nothing less than full points against Al Ahli, placed fifth with 29 points.

Al Sadd’s opponents are Qatar SC. The Wolves will not want any hassles in their march to the title. They had extended their lead at the top from two to four points last week after beating Al Rayyan in the Qatar Clasico.

Qatar SC, 10th with 16 points, will have a point to prove as they had lost to Al Khor in Week 17.

Al Sailiya, third with 31 points, and Al Arabi, sixth with 24 points, both won last week, against Al Ahli and Al Shahania respectively.

Al Sailiya will be eager to stay among the top four, while Al Arabi have a chance to storm into the top four.

Al Khor, who beat Qatar SC in Week 17, host seventh-placed Umm Salal (20 points), who were shocked by Al Kharaitiyat, in the round’s last contest.