Shehab Ahmed will need to exert himself to put Zamalek wizard Shikabala at bay while Ibrahim Salah faces the same challenge in marking Ahli schemer Mohamed Abou-Treika in the Cairo derby. The in-form Shikabala was tightly marked by holding midfielder Hossam Ashour in the White Knights' previous meetings with their perennial arch-rivals Ahli. Ashour was ruled out of Thursday's eagerly-anticipated match due to a persistent ankle injury, leaving the inexperienced Shehab with a tough task in hand. But Shehab, nicknamed the sniper for his trademark thunderbolt shots, seemed to be unfazed by Shikabala's fearsome skills. "Everybody used to watch Ashour closely marking Shikabala, but why don't I take on the same role this time around?" he told FilGoal.com. "If he's deployed as a playmaker or tries to find a breakthrough from the right flank, he will find me because I usually support Sayed Moawad from my left-hand side.
"Shikabala is skillful and fast. He's one of the best players in Egypt nowadays but stopping him is not entirely impossible. "Concentration is essential, so as he doesn't dribble past me and sprints towards the goal unopposed." Shehab, 20, also played down the pressure of the crucial Egyptian Premier League encounter. "I have enough experience to handle big games. I faced a lot of pressure while playing against Ittihad of Libya (in the CAF Champions League)," he said. Shehab cannoned an unstoppable long-range effort against Ittihad in injury time to seal a 3-0 victory that saw Ahli advance to the group stage of the tournament. Midfield Battle
Abou-Treika On the other hand, Zamalek's Salah will have to keep tabs on Abou-Treika and Geddo in the capital derby, a mission the defensive midfielder is convinced he's up to. "The victory is within our grasp and the midfield battle is what matters the most," Salah told FilGoal.com. "It's up to Zamalek's midfielders regardless of the condition of Ahli's players. "I played against Abou-Treika and Geddo before. They are two of the greatest footballers in Egypt but I'm ready for the match. "I respect them but I don't fear them." Salah joined Zamalek from Mansoura in 2009. He only started to play regularly after Hossam Hassan took the club's helm later in the same year. Zamalek are topping the league table with 30 points, six ahead of defending champions Ahli.
