Despite their ambitions, Ahly face the challenge of managing their continental commitments, particularly the impending Champions League final against Tunisia's Esperance scheduled for 18 and 25 May.

Currently occupying the seventh spot in the table with 30 points, Ahly still have eight games in hand due to their participation in continental tournaments.

This provides them with an opportunity to climb the rankings and solidify their position.

In contrast, Baladeyet El-Mahalla find themselves struggling in 14th place with 19 points, only four points above the relegation zone.

Their aim will be to gather crucial points and distance themselves from the danger of demotion.

However, Ahly will face challenges in defence as regular defender Mohamed Abdel-Moneim will be serving a suspension due to accumulated yellow cards.

Additionally, the experienced defender Rami Rabia will be absent from the game due to a calf injury.

Coach Marcel Koller has made strategic squad selections, including Mohamed "Afsha" Magdy and Karim Fouad, indicating his intention to handle both domestic and continental challenges effectively.

Koller has made the decision to rest several key players including Palestinian striker Wissem Abou Ali for the match against Baladeyet El-Mahalla, demonstrating a calculated approach by the manager.

This move suggests that the team may be prioritizing the upcoming Champions League final while still aiming for a strong performance in the domestic league.

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