Ahly are overwhelming favourites to win a fifth straight Egyptian Premier League title but they are still keen on ending the curse of Pyramids FC as both sides meet on Thursday.

The Red Devils lost their previous four matches against Pyramids in all competitions, a poor run which stands in stark contrast to the pedigree of Egypt and Africa's most successful club.

A heated rivalry emerged between both sides last season after Saudi Turki Al-Sheikh, the former honorary chairman of Ahly, fell out with the club, buying Al-Assiouty Sports and re-naming them Pyramids as he sought to dethrone the Cairo giants.

Although Pyramids could only finish third in the Egyptian league last season after spending big on new recruits, they still completed the double over eventual champions Ahly, beating them at home and away.

Pyramids changed hands last summer, with Emirati investor Salem Al-Shamsi buying the club. They lost some of their key men, including Brazilian winger Keno, and their domestic form has notably declined this term.

They lie fourth in the table with 26 points, ten behind runaway leaders Ahly, who still have three matches in hand.

Pyramids will have to do without their prized asset Abdallah El-Said, a former Ahly star who left the club in an acrimonious manner in the summer. He was put up for sale as a disciplinary measure by Ahly after the found out that he signed for arch-rivals Zamalek.

He will sit out the match due to automatic suspension after incurring three yellow cards.

Ahly welcome back right-back Ahmed Fathi after he recovered from injury.

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