The knockout stage debutants in the AFC Champions League will take to the pitch to begin their 2016/17 domestic commitments just over a week since a 3-0 hammering of El Jaish in Qatar made them perfectly placed to seal a spot in the semi-finals.

“Pre-season is over and the season is about to start so official games like the Arabian Gulf Cup are very useful for us, especially with the AFC Champions League second leg coming up,” the Serbian said of the return match in Dubai on September 14.

“It’s also important that with players missing due to national duty that others can participate and get some games.”

Fellow 2016 ACL quarter-finalists Al Ain are set to be heavily depleted when they welcome yo-yo club Ittihad Kalba to Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

“We’re going to be missing seven key (UAE) players,” said coach Zlatko Dalic.

“We hope to complete our preparations for the Lokomotiv Tashkent (second leg) without injuries.”

Friday’s final game sees promo-ted Hatta make their competition bow at Al Dhafra.