Ahly's football sector manager Sayed Abdel-Hafiz said that Tuesday's Egypt Cup round of 16 game against Haras El-Hodoud will be the best preparation for the team ahead of the Wydad Casablanca clashes in CAF Champions League.
"Cup games are always tougher than league matches because you have to win and the technical staff [under helms of manager Martin Jol] warned players of the sensitivity of Haras game amid preparation for the CAF Champions League upcoming clashes," Abdel-Hafiz stated on the club's official website on Tuesday.
The record holders of eight Champions League trophies lost their first two group stage games against Zesco United of Zambia (3-2 away) and Ivory Coast's Asec Mimosa (2-1 at home).
They will face Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, with the home and away games scheduled for 16 and 27 July.
"The players are fatigued following the Cairo derby," Abdel-Hafiz stated.
On Saturday, Ahly were held in a goalless draw against arch-rivals Zamalek in their last game of the Egyptian Premier League. Though they won the league with 76 points, seven ahead of holders Zamalek.
Facing the same circumstances, Zamalek will play Ittihad El-Shorta in the Egypt Cup on Tuesday before they clash with South Africa's Sundown on Sunday continentally. They won their group B opener against Nigeria's Enyimba 1-0.