Shikabala will play a deep role behind striking duo Gamal Hamza and Abdul-Halim Ali in Ruud Krol’s debut after taking over as Zamalek manager, FilGoal.com has learnt.

New signings Beshir Al-Tabie and Mahmoud Fathallah are set to start in the back three and are likely to be accompanied with Karim Zekri.

Saad, joined Zamalek from Arab Champions League finalists Faisaly in the summer, will be among the substitutes despite his impressive form in the pre-season games.

Captain Hazem Emam and striker Mostafa Gaafar will be on the sidelines.

Zamalek’s top scorer Amr Zaki and co-skipper Mohamed Aboul-Ella miss the game as they serve a one-game ban. Tamer Abdul-Hamid is sidelined with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) chose referee Yasser Abdul-Raouf to officiate the crunch game.