Match preview

Al Raed have struggled to find their rhythm in the current campaign, having managed only four wins from 17 games so far this season, and a defeat in this fixture could see them plunge into the relegation zone.

The hosts come into this contest off the back of a 2-1 loss to Al Kholood in gameweek 17 at the Ar-Rass Stadium.

That result marked their sixth consecutive defeat in the top flight, leaving them dangerously hovering above the drop zone with 14 points, a spot above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Desperate for a win to put more distance between themselves and the teams below them in the standings, a record of one victory in seven matches since November, coupled with their failure to score in three of those fixtures, does not bode well for them.

Their leaky defence is also a reason to worry for Odair Hellmann – considering the 30 goals conceded so far this season, and the 14 shipped during their recent six-game losing streak, they have their work cut out against Al-Nassr, who have scored 10 in their last four league exertions.

However, despite their dismal form, Hellmann's team are unbeaten in their last two meetings against Thursday's opponents in the league, winning one and drawing the other.

After finishing a distant second, 14 points behind champions Al-Hilal last season, Al-Nassr have found competition for the title even tougher this term.

Although Stefano Pioli's team claimed a 3-1 victory over Al Fateh at Al-Awwal Park in their last top-flight fixture to make it back-to-back wins, the Knight of Najd are still far off the pace.

The Riyadh-based team sit fourth in the standings with 35 points from 17 matches – eight fewer than Al-Hilal and Karim Benzema's Al-Ittihad.

Rarely kept at bay on enemy territory, the Heart of Najd have breached their opponents in all eight fixtures on their travels this season – with at least three goals scored in four of those matches – and 10 recorded in their last three trips to the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

Al-Nassr will fancy their chances of claiming a third win on the bounce in the league, given the abysmal form of the hosts in addition to the visitors' eight-game winning streak against Hellmann's team on the road.

Al Raed possible starting lineup:

Sunyur; Al Jayzani, Gonzalez, Al Rajeh, Hawsawi; Al Dossary, Abeid, Normann, Bouzok; Al Amri, Sayoud

Al-Nassr possible starting lineup:

Bento; Bu Washl, Lajami, Simakan, Al Ghannam; Brozovic, Al Khaibari; Mane, Otavio, Angelo; Ronaldo