Defending champions Al Ain face a must-win game against Al Rayyan in the Asian Champions League Elite on Monday night in what could be manager Leonardo Jardim's final match in charge.
Jardim only replaced Hernan Crespo in the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium dugout last November, but results have not improved and he is widely reported to have agreed an 18-month deal to take over at the Brazilian club Cruzeiro.
The formalities could be completed after Monday's game (6pm UAE) in the Garden City.
The Serbian coach Vladimir Ivic, formerly boss of PAOK and Watford, is thought to be the favourite to take over if Jardim's exit is confirmed.
Before that, Al Ain must defeat their Qatari guests to have any chance of reaching the next round of a competition they famously won against Japan's Yokohama F Marinos last May.
Their defence of that crown has been a disaster, with two draws and four defeats from six games leaving them down in 11th place in the 12-team West Asian league table.
The 14-time UAE champions have also experienced a poor domestic season and lie fourth in the Adnoc Pro League table, 14 points adrift of leaders Sharjah.
The club are expected to shake up their playing staff this summer, including their quota of foreign stars.
But with two games remaining in their AFC group stage campaign, only wins will suffice if they are to somehow gatecrash the top eight and seal progress.
Iran's Esteghlal currently occupy eighth spot on five points, three ahead of Al Ain. Al Rayyan, in seventh, also have five points.
So far, five of the knockout round berths have already been secured in a competition dominated by Saudi Pro League clubs. Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, as well as Al Hilal and Al Ahli, have confirmed their progress to the next phase.
There they will be joined by Al Sadd from Qatar and UAE champions Al Wasl, leaving the rest scrambling for the final three slots.
Al Wasl have 11 points but cannot be caught as the two teams on five points – Esteghlal and Al Rayyan – play each other in the final round of fixtures.
The Dubai club visit Al Nassr on Monday night (10pm UAE), with the hosts potentially handing a debut to Jhon Duran, their $80 million deadline day capture from Aston Villa.
Iran's Persepolis, currently sixth in the standings, travel to Riyadh on Tuesday to play Al Hilal, who waved goodbye to Brazilian superstar Neymar last week, knowing a win will likely secure their progress, while Esteghlal meet Iraq's Al Shorta with similar aspirations.
Al Rayyan, meanwhile, will look to end Al Ain's slim chances and maintain their own push for a place in the last 16.
Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor sit in ninth spot, one point behind Esteghlal in the final qualifying position, and take on 10th-placed Al Gharafa from Qatar with both clubs needing vital points.
The competition resumes this week after a two-month break, while the 12-team East Asian section returns next week.
On that side of the draw, Yokohama F Marinos top the table on goal difference ahead of South Korea's Gwangju FC and fellow J-League side Vissel Kobe, but none of the 12 teams have so far confirmed their progress to the next phase.
