It has been confirmed that Al-Ittihad midfielder Awad Al-Nashri will be absent from the anticipated derby match against Al-Ahli, after being excluded from the plans of Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição.

Al-Nashri continues his treatment and rehabilitation program during the current period after sustaining an injury during the match against Al-Hazm on February 24, which has kept him from participating in the team's group training sessions.

The player also missed the match against Al-Khaleej, which came three days after his injury, continuing his absence from games as the team prepares for a strong encounter in the Jeddah Derby.

The Union is expected to hold its final training session on its home ground on Thursday evening, where Conceição will determine the final squad for the anticipated match, given the readiness of most foreign players available for local participation.

The club has 12 foreign players who can participate in domestic tournaments, while the presence of Cameroonian defender Stéphane Keller is limited to continental competition matches only.

The Union is preparing to face Al-Ahli on Friday evening in Jeddah as part of the twenty-fifth round of the Saudi Roshan League.

Al-Ahly enters the match occupying the second place in the standings with 59 points, behind the leader Al-Nassr with 61 points, while Al-Ittihad is in fifth place with 42 points.