The two clubs are becoming well acquainted with the Uzbeks having met the two-time ACL champions in three out of their four tournament campaigns.

History suggests it should be Bunyodkor who come out on top in Wednesday's Group C game at JAR Stadium as they have won their previous two home fixtures against the Saudi side and gone on to finish ahead of them in the standings.

There is a wild card in the fixture, however, in the shape of sudden heavy snowfall in Tashkent.

Kasimov said: "Sudden snowfall can affect the nature of the game. The match will be more of a battle.

“Maybe the beautiful game won’t work, but both teams will fight to the last minute.

“Al Ittihad are likely to play defensively. We will try to play attacking football.”

Kasimov is in his second spell in charge of the side and will ensure Al Ittihad face a very different challenge this time around.

Last year coach Luiz Felipe Scolari led a side containing such prominent international names as Rivaldo and Denilson.

Now Kasimov’s side, like the one he was in charge of back in 2008, is primarily made up of local stars, complemented by a sprinkling of Serbian players.

The formula appears to be working well so far. They have won both their opening domestic league matches, against Mashal and Navbakhor although they were held by Al Wahda in their opening Champions League fixture.

Kasimov will, however, may have to do without left-back Sakhob Juraev.

"Sakhob has a leg injury and tit is likely he will not play tomorrow,” he said.

“But it’s not only us who have selection problems. Our opponents do too. As far as I know, Mohammed Noor has not come to Tashkent.

“However, we and Al Ittihad have enough players to solve these problems.”

Al Ittihad’s Portuguese coach Toni is also wary of the weather conditions.

However, he believes last year’s loss in the corresponding fixture will spur his players on.

He said: "Despite the sudden snowfall, tomorrow we will try to show what we are capable of.

“We’ve drawn a lot in recent matches, but the Saudi Arabian championship and the AFC Champions League are very different tournaments.

“Here the players have extra motivation.

“The players remember last year's 3-0 defeat in Tashkent, and certainly want to take revenge.”