Both Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Shenzhen Jianlibao are approaching Wednesday's meeting in Suwon's World Cup Stadium in high spirits, after both winning their opening matches in Group E of the Asian Champions League.

The championd of their respective countries know that a win will hand control of the group to the victors.

The China Super League champion's 1-0 victory over J-League outfit Jubilo Iwata in the opening game was a great start in "the Group of Death", but new coach Chi Shangbin knows that the free-spending South Korean champion will be a different proposition.

"It was a vital win for us but the game at Suwon will be more difficult and we will have to be at our best," said the former captain of the Chinese national team.

Fortunately for Chi, his predecessor at Shenzhen and now China's head coach, Zhu Guanghu has not called up Shenzhen's national team players for upcoming friendlies with Spain and Ireland. Forward Li Yi, who scored the lone goal in Shenzhen's victory over Jubilo, and national team skipper Li Weifeng will therefore be available for the game against the 2004 K-League winner.

The Super League team visited South Korea only last month and suffered defeat at the hands of Suwon, with the 2001 and 2002 Asian Club Champions triumphing 3-1 during February's A3 tournament in Jeju. On that day, Brazilian striker Nadson scored twice, the start of a run that now totals 10 goals in seven games.

"He's getting better and better," said Suwon coach Cha Bum-kuen when asked about the K-League's MVP of 2004.

"His team-mates have been playing to his strengths and I hope they continue to do so on Wednesday."

The South Korean champion won its opening game over Hoang Anh Gia Lai. That 5-1 victory in the heat of Vietnam was followed by a hard fought 3-2 victory over fellow South Korean side FC Bucheon on Sunday in the Hauzen Cup.

Understandably, Cha is concerned about his team's condition.

"We have had no time to train, just rest," he said.

However, the former South Korean national coach has received some good news. The KFA agreed on Monday to allow Suwon goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae and midfielders Kim Nam-il and Kim Du-hyeon to meet-up with the national team in Dubai on Thursday, as Korea prepare for the vital World Cup qualifying game with Saudi Arabia on March 25.

"Striker Kim Dae-ui is injured but we have the players to cope without him but I don't know how we would have managed without our two central midfielders," explained Cha.

One of those players is Sandro Cardoso, who is included in the Suwon squad and may make his competitive debut from the bench against Shenzen.

The Brazilian received an 10-month suspended sentence in February for sexual assault while playing for Japan outfit JEF United. He joined Suwon in the close season.

The game kicks off at 19:00 local time.

Source: Xinhua