UAE champions Al Ain could be without injured Asamoah Gyan for Friday's Super Cup against Al Ahli.
Gyan is only doing light training as he bids to recover from a muscle strain.
But the club are confident the Ghana captain will be match ready for the start of the new season against Al Shabab on 15 September.
Al Ain are also likely to lose Romanian midfielder Mirel Radoi could miss the season curtain-raiser.
The Boss have already ruled out Alex Brosque after the Australian forward underwent minor surgery on a thigh problem in Germany.
"Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, board chairman, gave directions to have (Brosque’s) surgery done immediately, to save time and to have the player back before the Al Shabab match," Team supervisor Mohammed Obeid Hammad said
"Mirel Radoi and Gyan are slightly , but Radoi is back to training."
Al Ain will be facing their former manager Cosmin Olaroiu for the first time since his summer defection to President's Cup winners Al Ahli.