Dubai: Defending Etisalat Cup champions Al Jazira of Abu Dhabi take on Al Shabab of Dubai in the capital tomorrow at 8pm in the first round of this season's prestigious Etisalat Cup Group B matches.
But before that last year's cup semi-finalists Al Wahda and Al Ain meet today at 5.20pm in the headline of Group A's openers.
Today's other matches see league strugglers Ittihad Kalba entertain mid-table Al Ahli in Group B and third from bottom Al Nasr take on Baniyas in Group A.
Both Kalba and Al Nasr could perhaps do without the distraction of cup matches given their bumpy starts to the league campaign or could look at success here as a consolation, whereas Baniyas and Al Ahli will appreciate the opportunity to hone their aim.
Bobbling at fourth and seventh in the league respectively, this may be their only chance of silverware this season and they'll want a confident start in the cup to buoy performances and momentum elsewhere.
Meanwhile league toppers Al Wasl will hope to continue dominance into the cup for hopes of a league and cup double to come true by the season's end.
They travel away to Sharjah tomorrow to kick off their Group B cup run.
Struggling sides
In Group A's other game tomorrow Dubai face Dhafra. Both sides are struggling in the league placed bottom and ninth from twelve respectively but play on with the belief that an extended cup run may save them the wrath of their own fans.
In general the Etisalat Cup, the loose equivalent of England's League Cup, hands an opportunity to sides to experiment with youth and tactics in order re-adjust their footing in the league — until such time as the quarter-finals when things get really serious given the demand for silverware.
