Skipper Juma is big doubt

ABU DHABI // Tonight could be the point of no return for the UAE when they face Saudi Arabia in their second consecutive World Cup qualifying match on home soil. The UAE lost 2-1 to North Korea on Saturday night at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium and their coach Bruno Metsu, who had stressed to need for a good start to the 2010 campaign, knows that another defeat on the same ground would virtually destroy any hopes of automatic qualification.

Saturday's loss was more painful because the UAE had the major share of the possession before twice being hit on the break 10 minutes from the final whistle. That below-par performance angered the home crowd and tonight Metsu has the chance to get things back on the right track. Majid Naser, the first-choice goalkeeper, returns after a ban and he is expected to provide more confidence to the defence. But the captain Abdulraheem Jumaa faces a fitness test on a knee.

Ismail Matar will again spearhead the attack alongside young Mohammed al Shehhi. The midfield is likely to remain the same as the one who began against North Korea with Helal Saeed, Subait Khater, Ismail al Hammadi and Jumaa. Rashid Abdulrahman marshals the defence with Basheer Saeed, and Haider Ali and Saleh Obaid on the wings. Metsu felt Naser's return will give more confidence to the team. "It is quite obvious the team's confidence grows when you have your best players on the pitch. We must win this game and the players know exactly what it means."

Metsu's men say they have put the first game behind them and are looking forward to clinching their first points. The UAE beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 on their way to their first Gulf Cup title last year, and that win is certain to have an influence in the re-match. The match is also of great importance for Saudi Arabia who were stunned on Saturday when Iran scored a late equaliser to deny them full points in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia have a better World Cup record than the UAE. They hope to qualify for a fifth consecutive World Cup finals and they are determined to return with maximum points from the UAE. The Saudi coach Nasser al Johar was keeping quiet yesterday, but Tariq al Khayal, the head of the Saudi delegation, said his team were confident. "We have come here to win," said Khayal. "This is a special game. It is a derby match so there is no need to find any particular motivation for the players. They know it's a big game.

"We were just unlucky not to take all the points against Iran. Iran are one of the stronger teams and to have put them under pressure was a great achievement. I can only think the team will improve from that game. They played at a high pace and that is what we want to show in this game." Saudi Arabia took the lead on the half hour against Iran but could not add to that signel goal despite creating numerous chances during a dominating first half. They had to settle for a draw after Jawad Nekounam's late strike.

"We had chances to score more goals, and if we had, we could have put the game to bed," added Khayal. "Nevertheless, it was a fine performance, although we didn't get the desired result."