The QNB Stars League ­Week 20 fixtures on Friday are Al Sailiya vs Al Gharafa (Al Ahli Stadium, 18:00), Umm Salal vs Al Sadd (Al Gharafa Stadium, 18:00), Al Rayyan vs Al Arabi (Al Sadd Stadium, 20:10) and Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Duhail (Al Khor Stadium, 20:10).

Al Sailiya vs Al Gharafa

Al Sailiya will look to put behind their disappointment of losing to Al Khor when they take on Al Gharafa, with both teams have the common aim of top-four finish in the tournament.

Al Gharafa are fourth with 29 points, while Al Sailiya are sixth on 25 points. They both are sure to go all out to achieve their goal as only two more rounds will remain afterwards.

Al Gharafa beat Al Rayyan 6-1, while Al Sailiya lost to Al Khor 1-2 last week.

The Cheetahs are doing pretty well in the second phase, whereas The Peregrines have been on a decline after occupying the fourth position for many weeks.

Al Sailiya (sixth, 25 points) will have the services of Nadir Belhadj.

Al Sailiya had won 3-2 in the first phase. 

Umm Salal vs Al Sadd

Al Sadd are second in the table with 46 points, five behind Al Duhail. The Wolves hope their Spanish midfield star Xavi Hernandez and Iranian defender Morteza Mohammed recover from their injuries sooner rather than later. However, they are doubtful for this match.

Xavi injured his back muscle during their key QNB Stars League Week 19 clash against Al Duhail, which they lost 3-4, and had come out of the field in the first half.

Morteza sustained the injury during their 5-0 win over Al Ahli in Week 18.

Umm Salal will have the services of Adil Rhaili and Ismail Ibrahim, who sat out of their drawn game against Qatar SC that ended in a 2-2 draw.

Umm Salal are only one point behind Al Gharafa and will be eager to be back among the elite quartet and play in the Qatar Cup.

Al Sadd had won 4-1 in the first phase.

Al Rayyan vs Al Arabi

Al Rayyan stand third in the standings with 39 points, while Al Arabi have 18.

Al Rayyan suffered a demoralising 1-6 defeat to Al Gharafa, whereas Al Arabi registered their second successive victory by prevailing 3-1 over Al Markhiya. They had beaten Al Kharaitiyat in Week 18.

The Lions had recently lost out in the title race and now trail leaders Al Duhail by 12 points and second-placed Al Sadd by seven.

Al Rayyan have Abderrazaq Hamdallah, Rodrigo Tabata and Sebastian Soria to lead their charge, while Al Arabi have the likes of Khalfan Ibrahim, Diego Jardel and Kwame Karikari to deliver the goods.

Al Arabi have been doing well of late and they will be keen to build on that as they seek a hat-trick of wins.

The match between Al Rayyan and Al Arabi will grab the most attention mainly because of their loyal fan base.

Al Rayyan had won 4-2 in the first phase.

Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Duhail

Al Duhail (51 points) face Al Kharaitiyat (13 points) with the prospects of sealing the QNB Stars League title if they win and second-placed Al Sadd lose to or even draw with Umm Salal in the day’s earlier kick-off, as The Red Knights will then have an unassailable lead.

Al Duhail had taken a giant leap in their title march by beating closest challengers and second-placed Al Sadd last week.

Al Duhail have the top two scorers in Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi (23 goals) and Tunisian attacking midfielder Youssef Msakni (21). Djamel Belmadi’s men have also been benefiting from a healthy competition between them as far as goals were concerned.

Al Duhail had won 8-2 in the first phase.