ABU DHABI HARLEQUINS VS DOHA
Abu Dhabi Harlequins are not motivated by revenge as they prepare to welcome Doha to Zayed Sports City on Friday, according to stand-in coach Scott Clark.
This weekend sees a reversal of the Gulf Top Six opening day fixtures and Quins are looking to erase the memory of the heavy 50-10 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Qatar outfit just over a month ago.
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Doha trounced Dubai Hurricanes 41-5 the week after and also put another 40-plus points on Bahrain before their bubble was burst by current GT6 leaders Abu Dhabi Saracens.
Quins lost their second game to Sarries but have since strung together a three-game winning run.
Quins are monitoring the fitness of scrum-half Ed Lewsey, although Clark said the chances of him playing are minimal.
Adel Al Hendi played for the seconds last week but is still carrying a minor groin injury so Quins are working him back into things gradually. Flanker Charlie Farmer may also play for the seconds this week as he is deemed not quite ready for a return to the first team.
After their humbling 39-15 defeat to unbeaten Sarries two weeks ago, Doha got back to winning ways last week with a 27-0 victory over Jebel Ali Dragons.
BAHRAIN VS DUBAI HURRICANES
Ross Mills says his Dubai Hurricanes side must fight through adversity to record a much-needed win against visiting Bahrain this weekend.
Canes beat Bahrain in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the Gulf Top Six season but have since lost four straight games and Mills says his side simply must win this one.
Mills has urged his team to get backs to basics and cut out the mistakes, meaning making tackles and winning line-outs.
He said: “We need to go back to the drawing board and see what we can do to get back on track.
“We need to look at the things we were doing right before the Premiership final and what we’ve not done right since
JEBEL ALI DRAGONS VS ABU DHABI SARACENS
Ali Thompson says he wants his Abu Dhabi Saracens to mirror their form from the first half of the Gulf Top Six campaign and win their next five games too.
Thompson is not satisfied with topping the GT6 table at the halfway stage and says his team have done only 50 per cent of the job.
The Sarries coach has watched his side sweep all before them so far this term but were below par in beating bottom club Bahrain 22-8 last time out.
Indeed, it was a late score from Thompson which put his side out of sight.
“It’s the second half of the season and no-one remembers the team sitting first after half the matches,” explained Thompson ahead of Friday’s trip to Jebel Ali Dragons.
Sarries welcome back influential skipper and arguably the GT6’s outstanding performer so far, Jaen Botes, who is available after suspension.
Scrum-half Rhuwan Pienaar returns as does Dougie Steele, who was rested last week with a slight injury.
He will fill in for winger Mike Pugliese, who is unavailable, while Cormac Meyler is still out with dislocated shoulder.