BEIRUT: This weekend sees the Lebanese Cup quarterfinals pit old rivals and familiar foes against each other while Salam Zgharta, the only lower league side still in the competition, attempt to pull off a shock triumph.

In Saturday’s only game, Nejmeh and Safa meet at the Beirut Municipality Stadium at 4 p.m. Safa are marginal favorites after a productive season that has seen them top the Premier League table on more than one occasion. Nejmeh will be hoping they can take their minds off a domestic campaign that derailed before Christmas.

Salam Zgharta have won by at least two goals in the three previous rounds to gain their quarterfinal berth although they have yet to come up against a top division side so far.

In Shabab al-Sahel, they have almost certainly drawn the most beatable team. Sahel are currently in eighth place in the Premier League, having won only two of their last eight games.

Last year, Akhaa Ahly achieved the feat of being a second division club in the semifinal before going out to Mabarrah at the Beirut Municipality stadium.

This time around Akhaa Ahly are a top division club and look likely to stay that way, despite a slow start to the season. But they could meet a similar fate to last year, having drawn Ahed – also losing semifinalists last year – who will be fielding Sergei Krut, their new Belarusian striker. Krut is looking likely to prove to be a big signing after showcasing his ability to score regularly at a high level with Nasaf in last year’s AFC Cup.

In a repeat of last year’s final Mabarrah will face Ansar, although the score is likely to be as tight as at their last cup meeting – 2-1 after extra time – with Ansar a much more potent threat in attack after the shrewd preseason signings of Ali Naseridinne and Edson.