Defending champions Pohang Steelers, 2009 runners-up Al Ittihad and former champions Gamba Osaka, Jeonbuk Motors and Al Ain were all given difficult assignments for the 2010 competition, which promises to be the best and most exciting yet.

The Steelers, of Korea Republic, must be at their best if they are to emerge from the group stages when they were placed in Group H alongside Australia’s 2008 ACL runners-up Adelaide United, Chinese side Shandong Luneng and the Japanese Emperor’s Cup winners, who will be decided on January 1.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, the former two-time champions and 2009 runners-up, were thrown into what could be West Asia’s Group of Death - Group B with Iran’s Zob Ahan, big-spending Bunyodkor, of Uzbekistan, and the West play-off winners.

Group C is also a candidate for the toughest of the competition, with inaugural ACL winners Al Ain, of United Arab Emirates, flung in with Iran’s 2007 runners-up Sepahan, Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab and Uzbek giants Pakhtakor.

Former champions Gamba Osaka, of Japan, and Korean side Jeonbuk Motors, were given testing challenges.

Gamba, the 2008 champions, are in Group G with ACL newcomers Henan Jianye, of China, Korean FA Cup winners Suwon Bluewings and the East Asian play-off winners.

The 2006 ACL winners Jeonbuk, who were crowned Korean champions over the weekend, must take on J.League champions Kashima Antlers, Indonesians Persipura Jaya and Chinese Super League runners-up Changchun Yatai in Group F.

Group E is probably the East Group of Death with Koreans Seongnam Ilhwa, Australian champions Melbourne Victory, CSL winners Beijing Guoan and J.League runners-up Kawasaki Frontale.

In Group A, Saudi side Al Ahli are pooled with Qatar’s Al Gharafa, UAE’s Al Jazira and Iran champions Esteghlal.

The UAE’s Al Ahli have been placed in Group D with Qataris Al Sadd, Iranian newcomers Mes Kerman and Saudi runners-up Al Hilal.

THE GROUPINGS

West 

Group A
Al Ahli (KSA), Al Gharafa (QAT), Al Jazira (UAE), Esteghlal (IRN)

Group B
Zobahan (IRN), Al Ittihad (KSA), Bunyodkor (UZB), Play-off Winner (West)

Group C
Al Ain (UAE), Sepahan (IRN), Al Shabab (KSA), Pakhtakor (UZB)

Group D
Al Sadd (QAT), Al Ahli (UAE), Mes (IRN), Al Hilal (KSA)

East

Group E
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR), Melbourne Victory (AUS), Beijing Guoan (CHN), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)

Group F
Kashima Antlers (JPN), Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Persipura Jayapura (IDN), Changchun Yatai (CHN)

Group G
Henan Jianye (CHN), Gamba Osaka (JPN), Suwon Bluewings (KOR), Play-off East winners

Group H
Adelaide United (AUS), Shandong Luneng (CHN), Cup winners (JPN), Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Play-off draw

West
SF1 - Al Karamah (SYR) v Al Wahda (UAE)
SF2 - Churchill Brothers (IND) bye into play-off final
Final - Winner (Al Karamah v Al Wahda) v Churchill Brothers
West winner goes to ACL. The two losers go to AFC Cup.

East
SF1 - Armed Forces (SIN) v Sriwijaya (IDN)
SF2 - Da Nang (VIE) v Muangthong (THA)
Final - Winner SF1 v  Winner SF2
East winner goes to ACL. The three losers go to AFC Cup.