Pakhtakor are top of Group A with seven points while Al Hilal lie second with five and Saba third on two points.

The hosts are in confident mood having won their last two league games but needed a last-minute strike to sink Metallurg 1-0 at home last time out.

And coach <>Victor Djalilov admits the fact his players have been made to work for their recent victories will stand them in good stead against Saba.

“Our opponent (Metallurg) tried to show persistent resistance and managed to execute that plan,” he said.

“Our players have met persistent resistance recently and it has proved good preparation for the game with Saba Battery.”

Pakhtakor also has a number of injury concerns to deal with and Djalilov admitted he may have to field some players that are not fully fit for the clash at Pakhtakor Stadium.

“Ilhomjon Suyjunov and Bojan Miladinovic played with injuries (against Metallurg),” he added. “In some ways, it has affected our performances.

“Islom Inomov has not recovered yet while Akmal Holmatov is not ready psychologically for what will surely prove a difficult game.”

Saba travel to Uzbekistan severely weakened by both suspension and injury.

Striker Mohsen Bayatinia and midfielder Mohsen Yousefi, who was sent off when Pakhtakor won 2-0 in Iran a fortnight ago, are banned while defender Sheis Rezaei and midfielder Mehdi Kheiri are injured.

The club’s chairman, Karim Malahi, underlined the return fixture in Tashkent is a must-win encounter for the Iranian side.

"Our progress to the next round depends on victory in this match so we’ll give everything to come away with a win,” he said.

"Our task is much harder (because of the absentees) but we’re not going there without hope."

Malahi was also keen to quash speculation about the future of manager Firouz Karimi, saying there’s no truth to rumours that he’s about to lose his job.

He also warned the depleted squad to be more disciplined and avoid damaging suspensions.

"I’ve told the players to play with more care but now that we can’t finish in the top three in the league, all our energy will go into the AFC Champions League and the Hasfi Cup," he added.