كتب : Hatem Maher
The highly-anticipated clash was initially scheduled to take place on Friday, November 26 but was postponed because it would clash with the Egyptian parliamentary elections.
Many Zamalek supporters would have probably preferred the initial date, given their team's superb run which saw them occupy the league summit after registering five wins in their last six games.
Ahli, on the other hand, are reeling after exiting the African Champions League at the semi-final stage before being held to a 1-1 league draw at lowly Gouna and losing 3-1 to bitter rivals Ismaili.
The disappointing results prompted coach Hossam Al-Badri to resign from his post before the club appointed one of their icons, Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Shafi 'Zizo', as his successor.
"The postponement is neither in favor of Ahli nor against Zamalek," Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed, whose competition with Essam Al-Hadari unsettled the team in the early stages of the season before the latter was suspended by FIFA, told FilGoal.com.
"Ahli could have overcome their problems at the expense of Zamalek if the match was played today.
"Their current unconvincing form might have encouraged them to recover and beat Zamalek, unlike what most people think.
"The match is important and unpredictable regardless of its date," the Zamalek fans favorite added.
Both sides will clash at Cairo Stadium on December 31. Zamalek haven't beaten arch rivals Ahli since 2007.
The White Knights top the table with 24 points, six ahead of fifth-placed Ahli who have two games in hand.