The two nations meet at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium with progression to the third round of the AFC process on the line. The Group A-leading visitors are already guaranteed a place, but it will be a morenervous evening for the Whites who beat Palestine 2-0 on Thursday to set-up this clash.
Any kind of victory against dominant opposition, who has won the last seven meetings, will see them through. A draw will leave them awaiting other results which will determine whether they are one of the four-best runners-up from the eight pools, while defeat will almost certainly put a premature end to their bid to reach the globe’s elite sporting event for the first time since 1990.
“This win was very important for us (against Palestine) and for how it sets us up for the next game (against Saudi Arabia),” said
25-year-old Fardan. “That game will be a very important game, and this victory will give us good motivation for that.
“Anyway, we should win this game. Whatever the results in the past, we should win this game. We will do our best to win and qualify.”
The UAE haven’t edged their regional rivals since a 1-0 triumph in the 2007 Gulf Cup semi-finals, a tournament on home soil which they went on to win. The latest loss was a 2-1 reversal last October in Jeddah to leave them chasing during the second round.
Fardan is one of a trio of Al Ahli midfielders who are suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards, which includes Ismail Al Hammadi and Majed Hassan. He was sure the remaining players can get a landmark result. He said: “We believe in ourselves.
Our players have always shown that in tough situations, they are full of confidence.
“They all know they can win.” Coach Mahdi Ali will be keen to see if 29-goal striker Ali Mabkhout can recover from a hamstring injury in time after missing the previous fixture.
The fitness of 2015 AFC Asian Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil should also be key, with the forward trudging off in pain with a back knock after a stellar performance against Palestine in which he set-up the first and scored the second from the penalty spot.
The 24-year-old has an excellent recent record against the Saudis. He rocketed in a 35-yard free-kick during the most-recent loss and scored twice in a dramatic 3-2 semi-final defeat at the 2014 Gulf Cup.
Fardan believed his Ahli teammate will be full of confidence.
He said: “Of course, it is important for the attackers to score. I think it is good motivation for him (Khalil) for the next game.
“Hopefully, he will also score in the next game.”