Any one from three and add a new face

The league is winding its way towards its conclusion with all three of the top sides hitting top form. Al Ain started off the weekend by hammering Abu Dhabi rivals Al Wahda 4-2.

Diaz has now taken over from Valdivia as leading the line for Al Ain. This is great to see from a player who has suffered a number of injuries in the past and is one of football's nice guys.

Al Ahli and Al Jazira said to each other anything you can do we can do as well as they both won 3-1 away. The next two weeks are vital as Al Ain have to play both Al Jazira and Al Ahli.

The best result Al Ain have managed against the pair this season in the league was a last-minute 2-2 draw with Al Ahli. When they met Jazira they were well beaten and looked second best by a long way.

The next two weeks are difficult to call as all three sides have hit form and with that in mind I am not going to predict anything. I got my copy of World Soccer delivered and I don't know if this is a sign that UAE football has arrived but there was a four-page spread on the country's football.

The interest in the game here is of course on the back of the World Club Championship this December. I hope that this can generate some interest in local football here. The clubs are in need of crowds. I watched Sharjah play Al Wasl on Sunday night and I am sure there were more people on the bench than in the crowd.

I know it was a nothing-to-play-for game but if the UFL wants to be taken seriously on the international stage then it is important that the TV pictures show healthy crowds in the stadiums. The newest addition to the UFL is Bani Yas. They have secured promotion to the top flight.

The club is situated 30km from Abu Dhabi on the Al Ain road. They are an ambitious club who have announced they are building a new sports complex of which the football stadium will be the centrepiece.

The fact they are from a one-team town means that they should get a decent support and hold their own among the big boys.

They have beaten top flight opposition this season in the President's Cup and pushed Al Ain all the way to extra time before losing by the odd goal. This weekend, Friday is the day for the big one Al Jazira at home to Al Ain. Saturday has the rest of the programme.

Weekend's games

Friday

Al Jazira v Al Ain Saturday

Al Ahli v Sharjah

Al Wahda v Al Shabab

Al Wasl v Al Dhafra

Al Khaleej v Al Shaab

Ajman v Al Nasr