Two teams with vastly different motivations for needing three points will clash in midweek when Al-Hilal travel to the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium to face Al-Raed in the Saudi Pro League.
The hosts are bottom of the table, nine points from safety heading into this match, while the visitors are six points off the league leaders with five games left to play this season.
Match preview
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With 15 points still on the table and just eight points separating the top three teams in the league standings, a victory for Al-Hilal here could prove to be a major factor in their league position come the end of the season.
A win for the Blue Waves could put them three points off the top if Al Ittihad lose to Al-Nassr later in the day in Riyadh, and it will also be a much-needed boost around the camp after a very difficult week.
Not only were Al-Hilal beaten in the AFC Champions League Elite semi-final by Al Ahli last Tuesday, but they are now also without a permanent head coach, with the club opting to part ways with Jorge Jesus over the weekend.
Jesus has been heavily linked with the Brazil national side, and former captain and club legend Mohammad Al-Shalhoub will now fill in on the touchline on a temporary basis for Al-Za'eem.
Still, the visitors are expected to dominate this match, having only ever lost once in 36 previous encounters against Al Raed, while they also scored three more goals in each of the last three meetings.
Meanwhile, after picking up a crucial three points against Al Orubah a couple of weeks ago, Al Raed's survival hopes took a major knock last time out when they suffered a 4-3 defeat to Al Taawoun despite a spirited fightback from 4-1 down.
A loss here could put RAE 12 points behind ORO - the first team above the dotted line - by this weekend, and all but confirm that they will be heading to the Saudi First Division next season.
Indeed, it has been a difficult start to life in Buraidah for Kresimir Rezic, which began with elimination from the King's Cup at the semi-final stage, while last week's loss marked his fourth defeat in his first five games.
While the Croatian tactician would love nothing more than to take advantage of a vulnerable opponent here, his side has not won a home league game since mid-November (W0 D1 L8) and conceded two or more goals in seven of the nine matches during that period.
Team News
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Al Raed have only one known injury absentee for this match in Mohammed Fouzair, who underwent surgery in November and will not return to first team action until next season.
With 15 goal contributions in 24 games this season, Amir Sayoud has been the standout performer despite the hosts' struggles this term, and he will almost certainly keep his place in attack alongside Karim El Berkaoui this week.
Joao Cancelo was forced off just before the half time interval against Gwanju in the AFC Champions League quarter-final through injury, and it is unclear if he will return before the end of the season.
Kaio Cesar could be handed a start here after coming off the bench in the 59th minute against Al Ahli before being left in disbelief when he was withdrawn moments later following Kalidou Koulibaly's dismissal.
Al Raed possible starting lineup:
Moreira; Al-Rajeh, Gonzalez, Qasmi, Al-Yousef; Hazazi, Normann, Abeid; Sayoud, El Berkaoui, Bouzok
Al-Hilal possible starting lineup:
Bounou; Al-Shahrani, Koulibaly, Al Bulaihi, Lodi; Neves, Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom, Leonardo, Al-Dawsari; Mitrovic
We say: Al Raed 1-3 Al-Hilal
Despite their recent setbacks, Al-Hilal are still alive in the title race and could not have chosen a better opponent to face to get back to winning ways. Al-Raed are winless in their last nine home league matches, and we feel another loss is on the way in midweek.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
