Al Shabab will not give up on catching league leaders

Al Shabab are refusing to concede the Etisalat Pro League title to Al Ain despite Cosmin Olaroiu's side's convincing lead at the top of the table. Ahead of the 17th round of matches today and tomorrow, Al Ain have a seven-point lead over second-placed defending champions Al Jazira, while Al Shabab are a further two points adrift in third. Al Ain, who boast star Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan among their ranks, have lost just one league match this season. The leaders host mid-table Bani Yas tomorrow, so Paulo Bonamigo's Al Shabab can close the gap temporarily, at least when they host Diego Maradona's Al Wasl tonight. Team manager Obaid Al Hubaitha said: "Of course the plan is to reach the best finish possible. If second is available we should be striving for it, but Al Ain still have matches against Al Jazira and Al Shabab, who are second and third. All Al Ain's matches — the last six games — wont be easy regardless of whether they are playing bottom-of-the-league teams. It's a fight for survival for some so you can't concede the title to Al Ain yet — they still have to do it. Al Wahda were 12 points ahead one season and Al Ahli came from behind to steal the title, so there are examples. People can say what they want, Al Ain still has to do it and they'll need luck on their side. We're focusing to do our best and win our matches and see how results go." Al Shabab's hopes of a good result today have been hit, however, by an injury to key midfielder Azizbek Haydarov. Al Nasr will look to keep their faint title hopes alive with a home win over bottom side Sharjah tonight, while Al Jazira play relegation-threatened Emirates.