While defending champions Ahli were struggling for weeks to record a win, the Whites won their last three games with Ismaili, Masri and Ittihad to go unopposed on top of the Egyptian Premier League table.

Cairo titans Zamalek and Ahli have one match each before facing off on December 30th, with the latter team taking on Arab Contractors on Saturday.

The Red Devils, who suffered a four-match winless run before beating Harras Hodoud on Tuesday, are in fifth place with 23 points, four behind their arch-rivals Zamalek.

Hossam Hassan's side are widely expected to ease to a victory over minnows Degla and ensure their supremacy but the highly-rated coach warned his men off underestimating their opponents.

"I asked the team's stars not to take the match lightly," Hassan said. "We will respect the other team in order to claim all three points."

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Zamalek forward Hussein Yasser was named for the match although he was called up by Qatar for the AFC Asian Cup.

Midfielder Hassan Mostafa will miss the game as he's yet to shake off an injury. Alaa Ali and Sabri Rahil are also unfit and were left out.

As expected, Zamalek's out-of-favor midfielder Rahim Ayew was excluded from the squad too.

Ahmed Gafaar and Abou Kone are the only hitmen in the squad, with Amr Zaki still nursing a long-lasting knee problem.