Harras Hodoud are hoping to have injured defenders Islam Al-Shater and Mohamed Mekki available for their African test against Sfaxien in their Confederation Cup group stage opener. Veteran defender Al-Shater picked up a knee injury in Hodoud's 8-1 drubbing of Botswana's Gaborone United last month which lifted them to the competition's group stage for the third successive season. Diminutive left-back Mekki is also struggling with an injury that kept him out of Hodoud's 2-2 draw at home to Zamalek in their Egyptian Premier League opener. "The medical team are doing their best to prepare the duo for Sunday's clash against Sfaxien," Hodoud assistant coach Abou-Taleb Al-Essawi told FilGoal.com. "Both players will have fitness tests on Friday and Saturday to determine their availability for the match." Egyptian Cup holders Hodoud host Sfaxien at Max Stadium in Alexandria on Sunday. They will also face Zambia's Zanaco and FUS Rabat of Morocco in Group B. They are looking to become the first Egyptian team to win the Confederation Cup, Africa's secondary club competition.