Ajman gunning for Al Ain scalp

Ajman feel their stunning 2-1 victory over Al Shaab in last week's Etisalat Pro League gives them the edge.

Ajman feel their stunning 2-1 victory over Al Shaab in last week's Etisalat Pro League will give them the edge over an under-powered Al Ain in Saturday's Etisalat Cup tie at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium. Iranian pros Javad Kazemian and Ali Samra fired first half goals to give the promoted club their first win in three matches and that result will have surely bolstered their confidence. Al Ain will be without several key players because of national duty and their Chilean striker Jorge Valdivia, who will be playing for his country in a World Cup qualifying match with Ecuador on Sunday.

The Ain coach Winfried Schaefer (right) expects his team to come out on top despite the absence of local players Saif Mohammed, Abdulla Malallah, Faris Jumaa, Mohammed Fayez and Ahmed Madhad, and Valdivia. "The absence of half the line-up has certainly created a huge void," said the German. "But at some stage or the other we must be prepared for such situations. And fortunately we have a strong bench."

Ajman will obviously rely on their Iranian forwards Kazemian and Samra to lead the attack in Group C that also includes Al Nasr and Al Ahli.