By Amr Shaheen BBC Sport, North Africa

Raja have an uphill task against Etoile

Abdelhamid Souiri, chairman of Raja Casablanca, admits their presence in the knockout stages of Africa's top club competition is an act of providence.

"We needed a gift from Ahly to go this far," Souiri confessed.

It was the Egyptian club's home and away wins over two-time champions, Enyimba of Nigeria, in the group stages, that enabled Raja snatch a place in the last four.

But Souiri knows that his team will need more than luck against Etoile du Sahel, as they host them in Saturday's opening leg of the Champions League semi-final.

"We should ensure we make the best out of it this time."

But Raja will be without three key players - Nater Hamid and Jrindou Abdellatif, now with Saudi Arabian club Ettifag and defender Erbate Amine, who is in the Qatari league.

Souiri is well aware that the absence of the three players does little for their continental ambitions.

But he says their circumstances leave them with no choice but to sell the players for much-needed income.

"We are not as rich as Ahly, Zamalek or Etoile Sahel.

Nigerian Emeka Opara could be vital for Etoile

"Occasionally we are obliged to make sacrifices and release some of our talented players."

Raja only returned home on Thursday to prepare for Saturday's encounter, as travel problems kept them in Syria after playing an Arab Champions League.

And they will have to be at their best against Etoile, last year's finalists, who did not lose a single game in the group stages.

Mehmed Bazdarevic, Etoile's Bosnian coach, hopes they will able to get the result that will put them in the driving seat when they host the decisive leg in Sousse.

The defensive duo of Ghezal Seif and Hammi Ahmed are suspended, while striker Jedidi Mohamed is in a race against time to recover from injury.