UAE: We Will Bounce Back Against Kuwait

Two points separate the four teams in Group Five with two matches remaining. The top two progress to the final round of qualification.

UAE are in second with five points while Kuwait sit in last with four.

"The players are in a good frame of mind and are brimming with confidence," Abdullah Hassan, the UAE manager, told Gulf News yesterday."

"They are aware of the importance of winning this particular match and we, the technical and administrative staff, have confidence that they will do their best to beat Kuwait to compensate for their loss [against] Iran in their last match."

Absent from that home defeat but ready for the Kuwait City test are Rashid Abdul Rahman who returns from suspension for the UAE and fit-again striker Mohammed Al Shehhi.

"I am happy to be back and I do hope that I will start the match with my colleagues, but that is a decision which the coach has to take," Al Shehhi said.

"However, we too are determined to win the match and continue with our campaign in the qualifiers. We hope to play our last match [against] Syria at home in a good position to reach the second round," he added.