The UAE’s Gulf Cup title defence has received a boost after key duo Omar Abdulrahman and Ismail Matar were declared fit enough to be named in the 24-man training camp squad.

Coach Mahdi Ali has picked a strong pool, with those selected expected to feature in the final list for the tournament which begins on Thursday, November 13 in Saudi Arabia.

Forward Matar, 31, and playmaker Abdulrahman, 23, have both been struggling with knee problems.

Matar has only made two substitute appearances for Al Wahda since being injured during the Whites’ European tour in August, while Abdulrahman has been nursing ligament trouble since the Al Ain's AGL victory at Ajman on September 24 and is a major doubt for Monday's high-profile clash with champions Al Ahli.

The Cup has come too soon for Al Wahda defender Hamdan Al Kamali, who tore a hamstring while captaining the team in the 4-0 defeat to Uzbekistan a fortnight ago.

The Whites travel to Dammam, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to begin preparations for a friendly against Lebanon on Thursday, November 6.

They then kick-off their Group B campaign against Oman in Riyadh on Friday, November 14, with matches to follow in the capital versus Kuwait on Monday, November 17 and Iraq on Thursday, November 20.

The UAE endured mixed results in their last pair of friendlies ahead of the competition, drawing 0-0 with Australia before an experimental side was humbled by the Uzbeks.

Full squad: Abdulaziz Haikal, Abdulaziz Sanqour, Walid Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil, Majed Hassan, Habib Fardan (Al Ahli), Amer Abdulrahman (Bani Yas), Ali Khaseif, Khamis Ismael, Ali Mabkhout (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ismail Ahmed, Mohammed Ahmed, Mohammed Fawzi, Mohanad Salem, Omer Abdulrahman, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Rashed Essa (Al Ain), Amer Omer, Ismail Matar (Al Wahda), Mohammed Yousuf, Yousuf Saeed (Sharjah), Ali Al Amri (Al Nasr).