Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan is likely to play against English Premiership giants Manchester City on January 14 as Al Ain open their new stadium.
Goal Ghana understands that Manuel Pellegrini may not be too happy if the club presses ahead with plans to play a friendly against the Boss in the United Arab Emirates, but the match seems very much likely to come off.
The Citizens insist that the friendly is not definite yet, but the local media in Abu Dhabi report the clash is probable.
The game comes two days after the away league trip to Newcastle, and four days before the Sky Blues entertain Cardiff, in the middle of a rare week-long break from action.
Pellegrini said: “I've not complained about too many matches, I've just complained about playing 44 hours between Boxing Day and December 28, not the amount of matches.”
Gyan could use the game to attract more suitors including Pelligrini, who will be looking for a striker in the summer with the possible sale of Edin Dzeko.