Due to the brief nature of the UAE rugby league season it already looks as if Friday’s showdown between Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Xodus Wasps could be a dress-rehearsal for the Nissan Rugby League Cup final in three weeks time.

– Harlequins crush Sharks in Nissan Rugby League Cup
– VIDEO: Xodus Wasps see off Al Ain Amblers
– Four teams to vie for new Nissan Rugby League Cup honours

Both teams won their opening fixtures and could seal a final berth with a second-successive win.

Xodus Wasps’ head coach James Agus will welcome a few new players into the fold for the trip to Zayed Sports City to take on Quins on Friday (kick-off 19:00).

“It will be tough against Quins but I’m quietly confident we’ll be a stronger side than the first game,” Agus said of Wasps’ 48-34 win against Al Ain Amblers last week.

He is expecting another fine game from last week’s man-of-the-match Mike Sole and is confident the additions of No6 Scott Hayes and loose forward Sam Housley will help beat the reigning champions.

“We’re 100 per cent confident and I honestly think we can go the season unbeaten,” said Agus. “We want to start as we mean to go on. Wasps had a disappointing union season and the lads are keen to put that right.

“The club feels that some are looking down on us and that’s definitely driving us on.”

Agus said he was pleased with Wasps’ attacking last week as well as the result, but claimed his team’s defence was a little lacklustre.

“We were maybe a bit rusty as it was the first game but we’ve really tightened up in training,” he said.

Adel Al Hendi, meanwhile, played one of his first games since December in Quins’ win over Sharks last week.

The Abu Dhabi union star shone for Jeremy Manning ’s men in the UAE Premiership before Christmas, but a persistent groin injury went untreated and saw him miss Quins’ entire Gulf Top Six campaign after he tore an adductor muscle.

“I felt it at the beginning of the Premiership but I wanted to play at the Dubai Sevens and didn’t want to miss games so I kept playing and made it worse,” said the winger.

He’s glad to be back and says the atmosphere in the Quins camp after the opening day victory is “buzzing”.

“Last week was one of my first games back and the boys put on a great performance,” he said. “It’s a new squad but there’s really good chemistry. After that win last week we want to keep it going.”