Ahly play out a 1-1 draw away to Tanzania's Young Africans in the first leg of the African Champions League round of 16 on Saturday (Ahly's official Facebook page)
Ahly will be looking to cement their position at the top of the Egyptian Premier league table when they host ENPPI at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium on Friday.
Having widened the gap with Zamalek to nine points, after the latter shockingly succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat by Ismaily last week, Ahly will be eager to preserve their lead over their arch-rivals with 12 matches remaining.
Despite proving to be a resilient opponent for Ahly several times during the past decade, ENPPI do not particularly look the same side that used to upset their decorated opponents this time around.
ENPPI enter the game on the back of two successive defeats on both African and domestic fronts, with a 2-0 Confederation Cup last-16 first-leg defeat at Gabon's Mounana preceded by another league loss to Wadi Degla by the same scoreline.
The defeat by Degla marked ENPPI's third consecutive league reverse, following a 1-0 win by Smouha and another thumping 4-0 loss at Masry.
The defeats left ENPPI lying in 12th spot of the league standings – a position that does not particularly suit the petroleum side who finished third last season.
Ahly, on the other hand, will be regarding the game as a final rehearsal before hosting Tanzania's Young Africans next week in the Champions League last-16.
A 1-1 draw has been widely viewed as a positive result away from home, with the eight-time African champions' mission likely to become much easier on Wednesday.
Ahly playmaker Saleh Gomaa, who has often turned in some impressive displays in the league this season, will be miss the game against his former club - as he has apparently been snubbed by Dutch manager Martin Jol.
Apart from Gomaa, striker John Antwi and defenders Bassem Ali and Mohamed Naguib were also left out due to different reasons.
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