The QNB Stars League ­Week 20 fixtures 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), Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Duhail (Al Khor Stadium, 20:10) on Friday, Al Khor vs Qatar SC (Al Khor Stadium, 18:00) and Al Ahli vs Al Markhiya (Al Ahli Stadium, 20:10) on Saturday.

Action is sure to be hotter — be it on top, in the middle or at the bottom — as all teams are keen to better their positions with only two rounds remaining in this season’s competition.

Al Duhail take on Al Kharaitiyat (11th with 13 points) on Friday with the prospects of clinching the coveted shield if they win and second-placed Al Sadd lose to Umm Salal in the day’s earlier kick-off, as The Red Knights will then have an unassailable eight-point lead.

Al Duhail, on 51 points, had made a major stride towards the QNB Stars League last week by beating closest challengers and second-placed side Al Sadd (46 points).

Al Duhail have the QNB Stars League’s 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.

They have pumped in the most number of goals (72) and have a goal difference of 49.

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

Al Sailiya (sixth, 25 points) will have the services of Nadir Belhadj when they take on Al Gharafa (29), who just broke into the top four following their big win over Al Rayyan, in a crucial fixture.

Umm Salal will get back the services of Adil Rhaili and Ismail Ibrahim, who sat out of their drawn game against Qatar SC, when they challenge Al Sadd. The Wolves will be keen to prove a point after missing out on yet another triumph.

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 Khor, placed 10th, are relatively safe on 18 points as they face Qatar SC (eighth, 19 points).

Promoted side Al Markhiya (last with nine points) know very well that one more defeat would send them back to the second division, so they will throw everything into their game against Al Ahli (seventh, 22 points).