KweséESPN preview this weekend's opening round of 2019 African Nations Cup qualifiers, with two North African heavyweights set to light up Group J.
Record-winners Egypt face a tough start to their campaign in Tunisia on Sunday in a derby that could be an early determinant of the outcome of the group.
With only the group winners guaranteed a place at the 2019 finals in Cameroon, the opening game at the Rades Stadium is key for both countries.
"We are going to Tunisia to win," Egypt coach Hector Cuper told journalists at a press conference on Sunday. "I trust my players' enthusiasm and determination.
"We know that preparing players will not be easy because the season ended for European-based players," he continued. "We want to use the experience the players won from the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations."
Egypt were defeated by Cameroon in February's final in Libreville, while Tunisia reached the quarter-finals.
The Eagles of Carthage fired veteran coach Henryk Kasperczak in April and replaced him with Nabil Maaloul, who returns for a second spell in charge.
There have been no significant changes to the Tunisia squad since the Nations Cup, although striker Ahmed Akaichi is a surprise omission.
The new coach has had little time to work with the majority of squad, especially players from CS Sfaxien, Esperance and Etoile Sahel who were all playing in African club competition at the weekend.
Niger and Swaziland are expected to be the supporting cast in the group, although the former finished higher than both Egypt and South Africa in the 2012 preliminaries and may fancy their chances of repeating the trick.
Niger host Sihlangu in Niamey on Saturday, with new Swaziland coach Pieter de Jongh only selecting his final squad before departure on Wednesday.
Squads
EGYPT
Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekrami (Al Ahly), Essam El Hadary (Degla), Ahmed El Shenawy (Zamalek)
Defenders: Mohamed Abdelshafi (Al Ahli Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City, England), Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Omar Gaber (FC Basle, Switzerland), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Karim Hafez (Racing Lens, France), Ahmed Hegazy (Al Ahly), Sam Morsi (Wigan Athlketic, England), Rami Rabia, Saad Samir (both Al Ahly)
Midfielders: Hossam Ashour (Al Ahly), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England), Abdallah El Said (Al Ahly), Mostafa Fathi, Tarek Hamed, Mahmoud Kahraba (Zamalek), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City, England), Amr Warda (PAOK Salonika, Greece)
Strikers: Ahmed El-Sheikh (Maqassa), Amr Gamal (Al Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Roma, Italy).
TUNISIA
Goalkeepers: Moez Ben Chrifia (Esperance), Farouk Ben Mustapha (Club Africain), Rami Jeridi (CS Sfaxien)
Defenders: Rami Bedoui (Etoile Sahel), Aymen Belaid (Rotherham United, England), Syam Ben Youssef (Caen, France), Zied Boughattass (Etoile Sahel), Khalil Chammam, Chamseddine Dhaouadi (both Esperance), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly, Egypt), Hamza Matlouthi, Yassine Meriah (both CS Sfaxien)
Midfielders: Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Etoile Sahel), Mohamed Selim Ben Othmane (Lokomotiv Goma Oryahovitsa, Bulgaria), Ghaylene Chalaali (Esperance), Karim Laaribi (Cesena, Italy), Youssef Msakni (Lakhouya, Qatar), Ferjani Sassi (Esperance), Naim Sliti (Lille, France)
Forwards: Hamdi Harbaoui (Charleroi, Belgium), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Esperance), Idriss Mhirsi (Red Star, France), Ismail Sassi (AEL Limassol, Cyprus).