The anticipated 'potent' partnership of strike duo Mido and Amr Zaki will come into effect when Zamalek meet Petrojet in the Egyptian Premier League on Thursday. Mido, who joined the Cairo giants from English side Middlesbrough on a season-long loan, is likely to make his competitive debut in the team's second league game. Zaki, who stayed put despite reported interest from Portsmouth, has recovered from a hamstring injury and should make Zamalek's starting line-up against Petrojet. They will be supported by inspirational playmaker Shikabala, who put in a scintillating display in Zamalek's 3-1 victory over ENPPI in the league opener. "Mido, along with Zaki and Shikabala, will be a fearsome trio upfront. They are proven goal-scorers who can break down any defense," the club's chairman Mamdouh Abbas said earlier this month. Zamalek will miss lively right-back Hazem Emam and regular goalkeeper Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed due to injury. Although Zamalek received the international clearance for Ivorian attacking midfielder Marcel Adiko, was he was not included in the match's squad. It might be the first stern test for the White Knights, who bolstered their ranks in the close season in a bid to win their first league title since 2004. Petrojet, who usually excel in the first half of the season before faltering at the halfway stage, opened their campaign in style. The came from behind to defeat Ittihad 3-1, thanks to a brace from in-form striker Al-Sayed Hamdi, who earned an Egypt call-up afterwards and played in the Pharaohs' 3-3 draw with Guinea last week.
Ismaili eye first win Amends Both Ismaili and ENPPI will be looking to make amends for their disappointing league start when they meet earlier on Thursday. Last season's runners-up Ismaili staged a second-half comeback to draw 2-2 at promoted Mansoura and spare their blushes. Their defense committed numerous errors during the game as the Dervishes played with an unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation to follow in the footsteps of their bitter rivals Ahli. They sorely missed combative defender Sherif Abdul-Fadil, who joined Ahli in the close season. "I'm sure that the 4-4-2 formation will work out," Ismaili's Serbian coach Nebojsa Vuckovic said. Ismaili will miss skipper Mohamed Hommos and midfielder Ahmed Khairi for the second successive game as both men failed to shake off injury in time for the match. ENPPI were outplayed by Zamalek but could take heart from their 3-1 win over AS Vita Club of DR Congo in the Confederation Cup – their first victory in the group stage. They will play their first league game under rookie Diaa Al-Sayed, who was appointed as ENPPI coach following the resignation of Anwar Salama.
