Harare — AFRICA'S most decorated football club, Al Ahly of Egypt, arrived in Harare yesterday with a full strength squad confident of silencing Gunners in their Champions League first round, first leg tie, at Rufaro tomorrow.

The six-time African champions warned their opponents, who are playing in the Champions League for the first time, that they were here for maximum points.

The Red Devils flew in around midday aboard a South African Airways jet with an inflated squad of 22 players and 12 officials and were immediately whisked away to a five-star hotel to give the players a short rest and prepare for their evening training session at Rufaro.

Gunners will only meet the costs for a delegation of 25 as per Caf requirements while the cash-rich visitors would take care of the difference.

Al Ahly had travelled a transcontinental trip that saw them sleeping over in Johannesburg before catching a connecting flight to Harare yesterday morning.

Head of delegation Khaled El-Dandaly said although the club had little knowledge of the Zimbabwean champions, Al Ahly would remain focused, adding Gunners would not be a stumbling block to their campaign.

"The players have had a very long journey and they are very tired. This is the full strength Al Ahly and they are going to play not only to win their match here but with a view to winning the Champions League title.

"They have been doing well at home and we just hope they continue in that form in the Champions League," said El-Dandaly.

Defender Wael Gomaa and Ahmed Hassan made the trip as the oldest players in the squad, both at 34, while 19-year-old Shehab El-Din Ahmed is the youngest.

Al Alhy brought six players who were part of the successful team that won the Africa Cup of Nations for a record seventh time for Egypt in Angola last month.

These are defenders Gomaa, Sayed Moawad and Ahmed Fathy, midifelder Ahmed Hassan, Hosni and striker Emad Moteeb.

Magical midfielder Mohamed Aboutreika, who helped Al Ahly win the Fifa Club World Cup bronze medal in 2006, has also recovered in time for the trip and will be available for selection as one of the most experienced players in the side.

Aboutreika featured for the Red Devils in their 2-1 win over Asyut Petrol on Monday to extend their lead in the Egypt Premier Soccer League to nine points ahead of Petrojet and Zamalek. Al Ahly are seeking their 35th title in the domestic league.

Coach Hossam El-Badri also roped in old horses Mohammed Barakat, Osama Hosni and striker Mohamed Fadl, who scored both goals in their latest victory against Asyut Petrol this week.

Graduates from the Al Ahly junior policy -- Mohamed Sameer, Mohammed Tallat, Mostafa Shebeeta, Ahmed Ali, Ahmed Shokry, Abdoullah Farouk and goalkeeper Ahmed Abdul Moneim, all below the age of 22 -- also made the trip in the hope of gaining experience at this level of the competition.

Al Ahly will play Gunners tomorrow at Rufaro in a game that could be seen as a David versus Goliath affair.

While Al Ahly are chasing a seventh Champions League title, Gunners are only making their debut at this stage, albeit in style, after dispatching Mafunzo FC of Tanzania 6-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round.

There are a lot of other interesting contrasts between the two clubs that have a difference of almost 100 years of existence.

Formed in 1907, Al Ahly who also boast several other Egyptian and international awards and they are on course to winning their 35th league title while Gunners are bracing to defend their first league title in only their third year in the Premiership.

However, Gunners' coach Darlington Dodo refused to be intimidated by Al Ahly's intimidating profile and warned the Egyptians could receive the shock of their lives if they underrate the hosts.

"This is going to be a new game and we are not going to look much into history. They have the experience but football is full of surprises.

"They could be in for the shock of their lives if they thought that they were coming here for an easy stroll in the park. No team should be underrated in football these days," said Dodo.

Al Ahly squad:

Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekramy, Ahmed Moneim

Defenders: Ahmed Sayed, Ahmed Fathy, Mohamed Samir, Wael Gomaa, Sayed Moawad, Sherif Abdul Fadil, Ahmed Ali.

Midfielders: Mohamed Aboutreika, Mohamed Barakat, Hossam Ashour, Mostafa Shebeeta, Shehab El-Din, Abdoullah Farouk, Ahmed Shokry, Ahmed Hassan.

Strikers: Osama Hosni, Emad Moteeb, Mohamed Fadl, Mohammed Tallat, Francis Forky.