Win or bust for Schaefer

AL AIN // A defining moment approaches for Winfried Schaefer as his Al Ain troops entertain Al Wahda in a game they need to win to keep their Pro League hopes alive. Anything less at the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium would end Al Ain's chances of completing a Treble this season. Al Ain are seven points behind the leaders Al Ahli and four behind second-placed Al Jazira, with five games left. If they get past Wahda they have chances to make up ground with games against the top two coming up.

Schaefer said: "It is very clear now. This is the biggest game for us, and everything will depend on the outcome of this match." Wahda are without their influential forward Ismail Matar, who serves a one-match ban for three bookings, and the midfielder Abdulraheem Jumaa, who is out for the rest of the season after leg surgery. Schaefer added: "Wahda are still a strong side and players like the Brazilian Pinga are like Jorge Valdivia for us. They can change the game. But we need to just go out there to play for the three points."

Meanwhile, the Baniyas coach Fawzi Banzati extolled the virtues of his team after they won promotion to the Pro League on Thursday night, beating Al Rams 4-1. "Look at the team's performance," said the Tunisian. "We have won Division One with two games left, and we reached the quarter-final of the President's Cup. We beat Al Ahli and lost to the eventual champions Al Ain 3-2 in the final seconds of the extra time.

"If there is any team that deserved to get promoted, it was Baniyas. The players are already looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the 'big boys' next season." @Email:[e-mail] Al Ain v Al Wahda, Abu Dhabi Sports 1, KO 8.30pm