The Uzbekistan League defending champions made the ideal start to the new domestic season with a 1-0 victory at Dinamo before producing a convincing performance last Friday to defeat Kyzylkum 4-0.

But coach Memet is adamant that while he is keen for another successful domestic campaign, his main priority is winning the AFC Champions League.

“During our matches in the Uzbekistan League we have been preparing for the AFC Champions League,” he said.

“We have tried out new tactical formations because we have serious ambitions in the ACL and therefore we are preparing as best we can.”

Former World Player of the Year Rivaldo and current AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov will be key to Bunyodkor’s hopes of progressing further than their semi-final run in last year’s competition.

Memet has also added Brazilians midfielder Joao Victor and defender Edson Ramos to his squad.

Meanwhile, Al Ettifaq are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 defeat to fellow AFC Champions League qualifiers Al Ittihad in the Saudi League last Thursday.

The team travelled to Tashkent on Monday in order to ensure they are well rested for the game and coach Ioan Andone is hopeful midfielder Faisal Al Dossary will be available after recovering from an ankle injury.

Al Ettifaq have, however, been boosted by the return to fitness from a knee injury of captain Sayaf Al Bishi.

And Andone believes that his side’s league defeat to Al Ittihad was necessary as it has enabled him to make the required changes to ensure errors do not occur on Wednesday.

"The defeat to Al Ittihad in the Saudi League produced some solutions for the mistakes inside the squad and we have worked to fix these errors,” he said.

“I have no idea about Bunyodkor except some matches that I have watched on videotapes."