Dubai Hurricanes and Jebel Ali Dragons will both look to keep a grip on the coat tails of the top three as they clash at The Sevens on Friday.
The Dubai rivals sit fourth and fifth respectively with both posting two defeats and two wins from their opening four West Asia Championship games.
Canes will go into the clash as slight favourites as hosts, as well as the fact that their two losses have come by a combined margin of 14 points.
Those defeats came in the shape of a 47-36 loss in Doha on January 22 while Luke Stevenson broke their hearts with a penalty in the dying seconds giving Abu Dhabi Harlequins a 37-34 victory in the capital last week.
Canes seem to finally be getting into a groove following a season-and-a-half of frustration after they suffered defeat to Quins in last season’s UAE Premiership final.
And stand-in skipper Chris Gregory says there is plenty of love around the club these days.
Our maths obviously sucks. The "official" west @asiarugby league table from @uaerugby @doharugby lead @DubaiExiles pic.twitter.com/0tTjMuapFl
— Gulf Rugby Paper (@GulfRugbyPaper) February 14, 2016
“Canes are doing great, we are competing in every game, and the boys are really enjoying it and have heaps of energy,” said Gregory, who fills in for the absent captain, Daniel Perry.
“(Head coach) James Ham is doing a great job of the training sessions and pulling the strings. The forwards are beginning to really gel and work together.
“The backs are showing heaps of flare, but can also bring the physicality when it is required.”
There is a double injury blow for Canes who will miss second row Greg Thompson and winger Daryl Johnson, both of whom were forced off at
Zayed Sports City a week ago.
Thompson hobbled off with an ankle strain but Johnson suffered a suspected broken ankle and is out for the rest of the season.
Jebel Ali will also be without a key duo for the game, with flanker Niall Statham and winger Ian Overton both away in India on UAE sevens duty, but confidence is high at Dragons, who are also firing again after a tough 18 months.
“We are able to field a strong side despite having Ian and Niall away with the UAE national sevens team,” said director of rugby, Paul Hart, who is predicting an entertaining game between two old foes.
“Games between Dragons and Canes are always close and I suspect (today) will be no different.”
Dragons have bolstered their ranks with the signing of ex-Newcastle Falcons utility forward Andy Buist, who has recently relocated to Dubai.
“We’re obviously without Ovey and Statham for international reasons but we’ve signed Andy which bolsters our pack nicely with some good experience and physicality,” said a buoyant skipper Ross Samson, who played with Buist at Newcastle.
