Caretaker coach Caio Zanardi is planning to play a confidence trick on the floundering Al Nasr players ahead of his second stint in a woeful season, beginning with Wednesday’s Bur Dubai derby against Al Wasl.

Sporting director Zanardi, 45, was announced as temporary successor to the abysmal Benat San Jose once the Spaniard’s winless eight-match stint was brought to an end on Sunday. The Brazilian – who earned three victories and two losses during December when he filled the void left by the sacked Ivan Jovanovic – has inherited a dramatically underperforming side, sitting just two places and five points above the Arabian Gulf League’s drop zone.

“We are confident that the team will play a good game and come out with positive results from the next meeting,” he said. “I am confident in my players and their desire to perform well.

“My main goal in this period is to restore confidence in my players. My knowledge of most of the players will help me a lot.”

Opponents Wasl have fared little better in 2018/19. They finished third last term, but are now ninth.

A trio of successive top-flight victories, however, has eased fears about a shock relegation.

Coach Laurentiu Reghecampf was taking nothing for granted against the transitional Blue Wave.

He said: “Al Nasr is one of the best teams in the UAE, with a great team of players. But they are unlucky.

“Whether they changed the coach or not, it will not change our goal of delivering a strong performance.”