Ahly and Zamalek have no choice but to secure a win to remain in contention for the title.
This season, the league has introduced a new format, with 18 clubs competing for a spot in the top nine to continue in the title race while the bottom teams fight to avoid relegation.
Defending champions Ahly face a challenging start to the playoffs, taking on their archrivals Zamalek in the first matchday, followed by a showdown with leaders Pyramids FC in the second matchday.
Currently, Pyramids lead the league with 42 points, three ahead of second-placed Ahly, while Zamalek sit third with 32 points.
Ahly to keep pressure on leaders
Ahly must defeat Zamalek to stay in the title hunt with Pyramids FC and maintain their bid for a third straight crown.
Swiss coach Marcel Koller is expected to field his strongest lineup against Zamalek, aiming to avoid a repeat of the 1-1 draw between the two teams in February.
Moroccan winger Achraf Bencharki, who scored in his first two matches against Zamalek and Haras El-Hodoud, is likely to start.
Slovenian forward Nejc Gradisar is also crucial for Koller. Since joining Ahly in January, he has netted four goals and provided four assists in eight league appearances.
In-form players Wessam Abou-Ali, Hussein El Shahat, and top scorer Emam Ashour will be available to boost Ahly’s title hopes.
However, Ahly will be without several key players for the derby, including Tunisian left-back Ali Maaloul, midfielders Mohamed 'Afsha' Magdi and Taher Mohamed Taher, and defender Yasser Ibrahim.
Zamalek’s slim title hopes rest on derby victory
Zamalek face a must-win situation to stay in the race for the title or at to finish in the top-two to secure a Champions League spot.
Portuguese coach José Peseiro will look to build on his two wins with Zamalek last week after a run of three draws since his appointment in mid-February.
"Ahly have an advantage as they got a longer break than us. We played 120 minutes against Modern Sport on Friday (in the Cup) while they were resting from almost a week,” the Portuguese told a news conference on Monday.
Peseiro is expected to deploy a compact defensive strategy similar to the one used in last month’s 1-1 draw with Ahly, aiming to neutralize the Reds’ key players.
Zamalek will be without several key players, including winter signings Ahmed Jafeli and Mahmoud Gehad due to injury and winger Mostafa Shalaby, who has been dropped from the squad for disciplinary reasons.
Tunisian defender Hamza Mathlouthi, Ahmed Hamdi, and Mohamed Abdel-Shafi are also sidelined with injuries.
Peseiro will rely on the form of key players such as Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed, Mahmoud Bentayg, and Abdallah El-Said, as well as striker Seifeddine Jaziri.
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