Al Nassr await defensive duo's fitness ahead of Diriyah clash

Australian coach Ange Postecoglou faces a defensive crisis ahead of the match against Al-Dhariyah, with doubts surrounding the readiness of Abdulelah Al-Amri and Mohamed Simakan for the starting lineup.

Abdulelah Al-Amri is struggling with physical fatigue following his participation with the Saudi national team against the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf Cup final last Tuesday, which necessitates an assessment of his condition before the match against Al-Dhariyah.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Simakan has continued his rehabilitation program after recovering from a muscle strain he suffered in the middle of the week, participating only in part of the team training during Wednesday's session.

The duo will undergo physical and fitness tests during Thursday's training to determine their ability to start against Al-Dhariyah in the match scheduled for Friday evening as part of the Saudi Pro League's eighth round.

Al-Dhariyah, newly promoted to the Saudi Pro League, occupies 8th place with 11 points, while Al-Nassr is in 3rd with 16 points. Each team hopes to exploit the upcoming match to achieve their goals in the standings.