كتب : Hatem Maher
Ahli have secured their third successive league title and decided to rest eight key players for the remainder of the campaign.
Zamalek have been in fine form recently as they try to ease the disappointment of being eliminated from the Arab Champions League and CAF Champions League this season.
The Men in White last defeated Ahli in the 2003/2004 season, the match where they were crowned champions for the 11th time in their history.
However, things haven't gone so well for Zamalek afterwards, having failed to claim any trophy and couldn't even defeat their arch-rivals in a single match.
The unlucky Zamalek had to face the in-form Ahli seven times in just two seasons: four matches in the league, two in the CAF Champions League and one time in the Egyptian Cup final.
Zamalek were defeated in all these matches, except on one occasion when they held Ahli to a goalless draw shortly after Egypt's 2006 African Cup of Nations triumph.
Pundits tipped the whites to win Monday's clash as they will face a second-string Ahli squad, but Zamalek football director Ayman Mansour warns of an over-confident approach as his side will have to deal with the burden of being favorites.
"We won't underestimate Ahli even if they will play without eight regulars; our opponents are a powerful team who have very good back-up players."
A dressing-room split may negatively affect Zamalek's performance after the team's top scorer Amr Zaki was involved in a brawl with teammate Mahmoud Abdul-Razeq 'Shikabala' during the match against Ittihad in the league.
"It was a tenuous argument that happens in any team. Everything now has been resolved and both players apologized to each other."
However, it remains to be seen whether Zamalek can shrug off the incident as the duo do not enjoy the best of disciplinary records.
Zamalek's French boss Henri Michel was unhappy with his side's display in the 1-0 win over Ittihad, but vowed to improve the weak aspects in the team's game before the Ahli clash.
"The players were below-par against Ittihad, they didn't follow my instructions and every one of them was too selfish. We will be much better when we take on Ahli on Monday," he said.
Monday's derby game will be the first for the French tactician who will definitely be looking to get off to a winning start against Ahli.
But Michel won't feel out of place as Ahli assistant coach Hossam Al-Badri will also be making his debut in charge of the team in a derby game.
Al-Badri, who will lead his team in the match as Portuguese boss Manuel Jose spends a vacation in his homeland, insisted his side have the sufficient incentive to win the match.
"The absence of several key players does not mean that we will have an unserious approach to the match. On the contrary, the players who will participate will be eager to prove themselves."
Ahli will miss Shadi Mohamed, Mohamed Shawki, Emad Al-Nahhas, Mohamed Abou-Treika, Mohamed Barakat, Emad Meteb, Flavio Amado and keeper Essam Al-Hadari in addition of injured right-back Islam Al-Shater.