Battle for the drop heats up in UAE Pro League

UAE Pro League fans can look forward to a thrilling finale The battle to beat the drop in the UAE Pro League looks set to go down to the wire with Al-Ittihad Kalba, Dibba Al-Fujairah and Al-Shaab fighting to stay up. On Friday, Al-Shaab, sitting in 12th with 17 points will play against Al-Dhafra, whilst 13th-placed Dibba Al-Fujairah tackle Al-Nasr. Al-Ittihad Kalba, 14th with 10 points, face Al-Jazira on Saturday.
League leaders Al-Ain, extended their commanding 13-point lead over 2nd-placed Al-Ahli, and regained the title with a 3-0 victory over Dubai on Thursday.
Al-Shaab coach Marius ?umudic? is looking forward to Thursday's match against Al-Dhafra, with three points likely to see him team secure safety. ?umudic? has been boosted by the return of Frenchman Michaël N'dri, Lebanese star Hassan Maatouk, Portugal's Filipe Teixeira and Zimbabwean Noel Kaseke.
Dibba Al-Fujairah coach Abdullah Misfir faces the toughest test, when his team hosts fifth-placed Al Nasr. Misfir can call on Lebanese defender Bilal Najjarin, the Brazilian duo Luiz Fernando, Alex Medeiros and Ghana's Samuel Ocran.
Ahli, looking to consolidate their position in second place and ensure AFC Champions League qualification, face Al-Wahda at the Maktoum Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Stadium. The contest is the first of Ahli's two-match home games ban dished out by the football association after their fans threw concrete blocks at the assistant referee during their match against Al-Ain in early April. The league leaders were given a 3-0 victory by default after the referee was forced to abandon the game.
Elsewhere, Al-Shabab, fresh from their 5-1 victory over Al-Jazira, tackles ninth-placed Al-Wasl.
Ajman hosts its rival Bani Yas, who slipped into third place after a 4-1 defeat against Al-Ahli.