The summit of the Iraqi Stars League is played between Al-Jawiya and Al-Shorta amidst significant absences on both sides of the derby, which may impose changes on the formations and reshape the anticipated confrontation.

On the Al-Shorta side, goalkeeper Ahmed Basel and defender Munaf Younis are absent due to joining the Iraqi national team, while the team also misses the services of left-back Ahmed Yahya due to injury, prompting the technical staff to rearrange the backline and wing options.

As for Al-Jawiya, Ruslan Hanoun is absent after receiving a red card in the previous match, and the team also misses Muhannad Abu Taha due to his participation with the Jordanian national team. The absence continues in the backline with the Algerian defender Idir Moukadem out due to injury, in addition to the absence of Kuwaiti Eid Al-Rashidi, who is in his country due to security circumstances, alongside the absence of Abbas Adel due to injury.

These absences will place the coaches in real tests of rotation and compensating for the key players, highlighting the importance of substitutes and the ability of both teams to maintain defensive balance and offensive effectiveness in a match that does not allow for a large margin of error, given its point and moral value in the race for the top.