Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição, head of Al-Ittihad Club, has decided to prepare a suitable replacement for Brazilian midfielder Fabinho for the upcoming match against Al-Ettifaq due to his suspension.

Financial coach Mamadou Doumbia has been identified as the option to replace Fabinho in Al-Ittihad's lineup against Al-Ettifaq, following the conclusion of his international duty with the Mali national team in the Africa Cup of Nations, according to Al-Riyadiyah newspaper.

Conceição is also awaiting the readiness of the French striker and team captain Karim Benzema, who suffered a health issue that led the medical staff to substitute him in the second half against Damac last Tuesday.

At the same time, Faisal Al-Ghamdi, the Al-Ittihad midfielder, continues his rehabilitation program off the field following a hamstring injury, which has kept him out of the team's recent matches.

Al-Ittihad's final training session today, Thursday, will determine the availability of Benzema and other substitutes before the match against Al-Ettifaq scheduled for Friday at the "Al-Inma" Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, as part of the sixteenth round.

Al-Ittihad occupies sixth place in the Saudi League standings with 27 points, while Al-Ettifaq is seventh with 22 points, in a close battle for the top positions in the league.