Crucial time as Arabian Gulf League enters business end

Sharjah's Abdalla Al Alawi vies for the ball with Nicolas Milesi Van Lommel (right) of Dhafra during their AGL match.

As the Arabian Gulf League heads towards the business end, it makes for quite an interesting prospect on who will blink and who doesn't.
Ten rounds remain in the UAE's top flight and the 14 clubs across the leaderboard enter a crucial time that could make or break their season. The race will hot up at the top, there will be some frenetic action amongst the mid-table scramblers and a fight to the finish to avoid the drop.
Sharjah, one of the oldest and storied clubs of yesteryears, are the runaway leaders and it has been quite the season for 'The King.'
Sharjah have been near flawless this season under Abdul Aziz Anbari, their former player and now coach. The players have responded so well, so much so that, apart from the five-point cushion at the top, they are unbeaten in 16 fixtures so far.
And they look set to extend that streak when they travel to Fujairah on Friday with their sights set on a sixth League title, their first in the professional era, and their first since the 1995-96 season.
It should be another day at office for Anbari's men against a Fujairah side who have shipped 15 goals and scored none at all in their past five matches.
Fujairah, who earned promotion through a play-off, are winless over the past five fixtures and are battling to avoid returning to the First Division.
The week's action begins with Al Nasr at home to Ittihad Kalba on Wednesday, hoping to bounce back from the defeat to defending champions Al Ain and also put a stop to a run of two successive defeats. The Blues are currently 11th on the table. Meanwhile, Wednesday night's top fixture is the Abu Dhabi derby between Al Wahda and Bani Yas at the Al Nahyan Stadium.
Bani Yas have been a roll, so to speak, unbeaten in seven matches, a run that includes an impressive five wins against Shabab Al Ahli, Dibba, Fujairah, Al Wasl and Al Jazira.
And by the looks of it, the Sky Blues should account for another Abu Dhabi rival after Al Jazira last week.
"It is a very important game for us and the fans of the two teams, so we will seek to provide a beautiful football match worthy of the name of the two teams and the importance of this derby," Bani Yas coach Krunoslav Jurcic told their official website.
"Such a game doesn't need any motivation from the coaching staff as the players are eager and hungry to perform in a derby. We have done well so far and hope to continue with the positive results," the Croatian added.
The Sky Blues woll be without striker Leroy George and midfielder Fawaz Awana through suspension, while striker Robson de Paula, on loan from Boavista, is out injured. Meanwhile, Shabab Al Ahli host Al Ain at their stadium in Al Awir on Thursday night.
james@khaleejtimes.com