At stake is a place in Group D of the 2012 edition of the championship, where the winner will join Al Gharafa of Qatar, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Piroozi from Iran in the competition proper.

"Neftchi are a strong side as they have well-built players and we should be aware of their strength,” said Al Shabab Al Arabi’s Brazilian coach Paulo Bonamigo.

“Uzbekistan clubs and teams have shown good performances in several competitions in recent years.

"We don't have a lot of information about our opponents as the Uzbekistan league ended two months ago but our player Azizbek Haydarov gave us good information about their strengths and weaknesses."

The international midfielder, who was part of the Uzbekistan team that reached the semifinals of the AFC Asian Cup last January, joined Al Shabab Al Arabi last season from Bunyodkor and is one of four foreign players on the clubs books.

The 26-year-old is joined in the squad by Chilean midfielder Carlos Villanueva, who joined in 2009 after a spell in the English Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, and Brazilian duo Ciel and Kieza.

Neftchi coach Yuriy Sarkisyan, meanwhile, will be taking a squad that features only Uzbek-born players into the encounter, which will be his side’s first of the 2012 season.

"Al Shabab’s chances are better as we don't have any foreign players while Al Shabab have good players in addition to four powerful players including Haydarov, who is considered one of the best Uzbek players," said Sarkisyan.

"I watched two matches of Al Shabab’s when we had a preparatory camp in Dubai recently. They have a good team and they will have a good advantage since they will be playing at home and in front their fans."