Jabbari missed the first round qualifying win against compatriots Zob Ahan last Saturday and is rated 50-50 by the club as they prepare to take on the Saudis while head coach Parviz Mazloumi will definitely be without the services of injured trio Andranik Teymourian, Fereydoon Zandi and Milad Meydavoudi.
“It’s a very important match for us,” said Mazloumi. “Matches between teams from Saudi Arabia and Iran are always tough but we will be doing our best for our fans.
“We want to be in the Group Stages and all of our players are motivated and I’m sure we will win. I can’t predict the score but I’m sure we can go through and we will need the support of our fans.”
The winner of the meeting at the Azadi Stadium – where a crowd of between 85,000 and 90,000 is expected – will play in Group A of the 2012 edition of the AFC Champions League alongside Al Jazira from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar’s Al Rayyan and Nasaf of Uzbekistan.
Ettifaq coach Branko Ivankovic, who previous worked as head coach of the Iran national team and took the country to the finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, has not travelled to Tehran for the game.
Instead, his assistant, Mansour Hilal, will lead the team in Ivankovic’s absence and he is confident his side has the quality to overcome the home team and book a place in the Group Stages.
“Meetings between Iranian and Saudi teams, whether its national teams or club teams, are always difficult,” he said.
“Not having our coach here might make things tougher but we will be strong. We have good players, players who have played for Saudi Arabia at national level and for the Olympic team. We are well prepared for this game and we are ready.”