Round nine of the QSL season will open up with three games on Thursday. With all six teams involved targeting wins to push them up the QSL standings.

The first match of the weekend will see high-flying Lekhwiya take on Al Sailiya in the 16:00 KO at Lekhwiya stadium.  Last time the Red Knights needed a Karim Boudiaf strike to confirm a narrow 3-2 win over Umm Salal. Djamel Belmadi will be targeting all three points again for his side, especially when Lekhiwya are four points behind league leaders El Jaish.

As for Al Sailiya, they have improved on a shaky start in the league and have four points from their last  two QSL games. The Peregrines are currently in eleventh place in the QSL standings, just in the relegation zone and head coach Sami Trabelsi will be well aware that a win can pull his side out of trouble.

Later on in the 18:10 KO at Al Gharafa stadium, newly promoted Muaither will face a tough test when they take on sixth placed Umm Salal. Phillipe Birol’s three game winning streak came to an end thanks to a 1-0 defeat to reigning QSL champions Al Rayyan last time out. The Frenchman will be targeting at least a point against draw specalists Umm Salal, as the Stallions aim for more points to boost their quest for survival.

Whilst Umm Salal will be targeting a moral boosting win to bolster their top four challenge after their 3-2 defeat to Lekhiwya. The Orange Fortress could be without key defender Anderson Martins for this match, and head coach Bülent Uygun will be relying on a member of his squad to cover for the absence of the no nonsense Brazilian stopper.

The final game of the day will see two struggling sides face off when Al Wakrah welcome Al Arabi to Al Wakrah stadium in the 18:10 KO.  The Blue Waves are unbeaten in their last two games under new coach Kais Yâakoubi registering draws against Al Sadd and Al Shahania respectively. The Tunisian tactitian will be aiming for a big win against an Al Arabi outfit who has suffered five straight defeats in the league.

Al Arabi has endured a miserable run this term and have sunk to twelfth place in the QSL standings. Last time out The Dream Team lost 3-1 in a feisty  Doha derby day encounter against Al Sadd. Head coach Edison Aguirre will welcome back midfielder Ahmed Maqsoud back into the side, and will be hoping the Qatar internatiaonal can make an impact for his side.