The Iranian side had to endure a delay of nearly 24 hours for their opening match after a sand storm swept through the Saudi capital but managed to hold two-time Asian Club Championship winners Al Hilal to a creditable 1-1 draw.

They will attempt to build on that with a positive result against the UAE league leaders in their first Champions League match since the club’s relocation last year from Tehran to the Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium in the ancient city 150 kilometres south-west of the Iranian capital.

Saba Battery’s return to Iran was delayed by 24 hours but the lack of a domestic league match last weekend allowed coach Firouz Karimi to give his players some time off before returning to training on Sunday.

The 52-year-old, who led Pas to the Asian Club Championship in 1993, remains confident of his side’s prospects in one of the competition’s most challenging groups.

“Group A is very hard but if things go well, we can qualify from the group,” he said.

Defender Sheys Rezaei, midfielder Mohammad Nouri and striker Gholam Rezaei have returned to the club after joining up with the national team for last Friday’s 1-0 win over Kenya.

Rezaei picked up a slight injury during the friendly at the Azadi but hopes to be ready for the Al Ahli clash.

“I feel some pain in my knee. Our coach is very sensitive about players joining the national team and I hope everything will be alright,” he said.

“I have no answer to give him as he really counts on us.”

Al Ahli are last in the group after going down 2-1 to Pakhtakor in their home opener and will be missing striker Mohamed Fawzi and defender Abdullah Ahmad once again due to injury.

However, defender Mohammad Kassim is set to return after missing the game against the Uzbek club due to injury while a knock sustained in training by striker Faisal Khalil is not expected to affect his participation.

Although disappointed by last week’s loss, Al Ahli coach Ivan Hasek believes that his side can bounce back.

“These things happen in football no matter how well prepared we are,” said the Czech.

“It was obviously a poor start but we’ll try to get back in this competition.”