With Al Qadsia having already captured one of the two qualifying spots for the last 16 from Group B, Shurtan and Al Ittihad are battling out to join the Kuwaitis in the next stage.

The Syrians hold the upper hand, however, as last week's 2-0 victory against Al Saqr moved them onto eight points and two ahead of Shurtan, who could only draw 1-1 against Al Qadsia at Guzor Central Stadium in which Ilnur Khazigaliev's goal midway through the second-half cancelled out Firas Al Khatib's opener.

They must therefore once again overcome a team they trounced 7-2 in Uzbekistan if they are to retain any chance of progressing and hope Al Ittihad slip up at Al Qadsia.

With the game moved to Aleppo due to the continuing political unrest in Yemen, Al Saqr will gladly bring the curtain down on a far from memorable AFC Cup campaign.

A solitary point against Al Qadsia is all Shamsan Saif's men have to show for their efforts through five games having conceded 16 goals in the process and they will be without the suspended Samer Yaseen and Zahar Saleh as they look to end on a winning note against the Uzbeks.