Zamalek face lowly Dakhleya in the Egyptian Premier League on Sunday with an eye on a vital African Champions League clash at home to USM Alger five days later. The White Knights have turned their attention to Africa's premier club competition after faltering in the domestic league, which arch rivals Ahly are likely to win on Monday with four matches to spare. Zamalek's only realistic hope is earning a place at next year's African Confederation Cup if they manage to hold onto third place, which they currently occupy. They are nine points behind second-placed Maqassa and the last Champions League qualification spot with five matches remaining for both sides, but Zamalek are expected to be deducted three points at the end of the season after withdrawing from a match against Maqassa last month. In a tight race for a third-place finish, Zamalek have 54 points, just one ahead of fourth-placed Masry. Zamalek have notably improved since the arrival of Portuguese coach Augusto Inacio, who is rotating his squad to keep them fresh for the Champions League group stage campaign. They beat Arab Contractors and Wadi Degla in their previous two matches and are expected to ease past Dakhleya, who are battling against relegation as they lie third from bottom in the 18-team table. Zamalek will be looking for another morale-boosting win before hosting USM Alger in Alexandria on Friday, having made a fine start to their Group C campaign by beating Zimbabwe's Caps United at home before settling for a 0-0 draw with Ahli Tripoli in Tunisia to move top. They will miss key playmaker Ayman Hefni and defender Shawki El-Said against Dakhleya due to injury. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
