Optimistic boss Mahdi Ali is convinced Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club’s trying inaugural season can still reap a first piece of silverware.

May’s merger has been anything but a runaway success. A draining run of draws saw coach Cosmin Olaroiu get sacked in December, with replacement Ali not faring much better.

A shot at redemption comes on Thursday night in the Arabian Gulf Cup quarter-final decider against struggling Hatta.

“Our ambition is to compete for the remaining two titles, and we have great hope of winning one of them,” said Ali, whose charges hold a commanding 3-0 advantage.

“The team has many imperfections and there is the possibility of giving some players a chance.”

Dibba Al Fujairah possess a 3-1 lead against an Al Jazira side riding high after Monday’s winning start against Qatar’s Al Gharafa in the 2018 AFC Champions League.

This is a factor which worries Fishermen coach Paulo Comelli.

He said: “Al Jazira is a big team.

“After winning in Asia, they will also be full of confidence.”

A Bur Dubai-derby kicks-off Friday’s final clashes. December’s opener at Al Wasl’s Zabeel Stadium ended in a 2-2 draw, but it’s been all change for Al Nasr since.

Ex-Italy tactician Cesare Prandelli was sacked in January, a decision to rehire Serbian Ivan Jovanovic seeing a perfect three wins recorded from three matches.

“The morale of the players is high,” said Lebanon centre-back Joan Oumari. “In the dressing room, we all agreed to fight.”

Al Wahda beat Al Ain 2-1 in the opener, but both now possess different distractions.

The Boss are gunning for domestic and continental glory, while Wahda are likely to continue concentrating on the top flight – a weakened side went down 5-0 at Lokomotiv Tashkent in the ACL.