Both teams have already been eliminated they will seek to preserve pride and end their campaigns on a positive note.

Zamalek have collected only four points after five games to lay at the bottom of Group D while Merrikh are third with one point more.

This early elemination cost Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira his job and Ahmed Abdel-Maksoud is serving as an interim until the appointment of a new coach.

However, the White Knights hope that this game will serve as a turning point for their disastrous season that saw them eliminated from the African Champions League, the Egyptian Cup and slip away in the league title race.

The staff is looking for a win to regain confidence and appease the fans anger.

Abdel-Maksoud will have to navigate the game without several key players including leftbacks Ahmed Fatouh and Mohamed Abdel-Shafy, midfielder Emad "Dunga" Nabil and Tunisia striker Seifeddine Jaziri.

On the other side he would welcome back captain Mahmoud "Shikabala" Abdel-Razek after recovering from his injury.