The eyes of the Iraqi Stars League fans turn on Thursday evening to the International City Stadium in Baghdad, where the leader Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya hosts its guest Erbil Club at 7:30 PM, as part of the 30th round competitions, in a match that seems crucial for both sides but with different motivations.

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya enters the match leading the standings with 69 points, 6 points ahead of its closest pursuer Al-Shorta, who raised its tally to 63 points after defeating Al-Qasim 3-1. The "Hawks" achieved a dramatic victory in the last round against Duhok 1-0 with a goal in injury time, maintaining the six-point gap with 5 rounds remaining.

The team is experiencing great technical stability, and recent results have confirmed the champion's character. A victory tomorrow will put Al-Jawiya 12 points away from officially clinching the title, if they win two of the remaining four matches.

On the other hand, Erbil visits as the third-place team with 59 points, but it is going through very difficult circumstances before the encounter. The "Yellow Fortress" experienced a turbulent week after professionals threatened to boycott travel to Baghdad due to delayed financial dues, before the management succeeded in temporarily containing the crisis.

The task seems complicated against the leader and on its field, especially with the expected absences and declining morale. Erbil wants at least to come away with a point to keep them in third place, but Al-Jawiya will not allow that easily.