DOHA: Umm Salal will be eager to snap their two-match draw streak on Saturday when they take on Al Ahli in a round 22 clash of the Qatar Stars League (QSL).

With Al Rayyan sealing the title race last week, jostling for positions for the rest of the QSL sides will begin in earnest when round 21 games commence on March 11.

Fifth-placed Umm Salal have dropped points in their last game against Al Gharafa when the two sides played a 4-4 draw on February 27.

A little over a week later, Umm Salal were held to a 1-1 draw by four-time QSL champions Lekhwiya on March 6. A later equaliser was needed by Umm Salal to share points in the round 21 clash.

Coached by Bulent Uygun, Umm Salal currently have 32 points from 21 matches.

Only Al Rayyan (60 points), El Jaish (40), Lekhwiya (38) and Al Sadd (35) are above Umm Salal in the points race with five rounds to spare.

For Al Ahli, placed 11th, last week's loss to Al Sailiyah couldn't have come at a worse time since the men in green are battling relegation fears.

With  a tally of just 22 points from 21 matches, the Zlatko Kranjcar-coached side needs a win to move away from 12th-placed Al Kharaitiyat (22 points) and 13-placed Qatar SC (20).

Also on Saturday, sixth-placed Al Sailiyah will welcome a possible win against Al Gharafa, the former champions.

Coached by Sami Trabelsi, Al Sailiyah are coming of two back-to-back wins against Al Kharaitiyat (2-1) and Al Ahli (2-1).

Al Sailiyah have a tally of 31 points and are shadowing fifth-placed
Umm Salal (32).

Struggling Al Gharafa, placed 8th after 20 rounds, have a tally of 26 points.