Three days after humbling Al Jazira 4-2 to take over at the top in the United Arab Emirates League, the “Red Knights” will host the Uzbeks in their Group A opener at the Rashid Stadium high in confidence.

“The Jazira game is in the past now. It was just one small step in our season. We are now fully focused on the Champions League and want to start our campaign with a win,” said coach Ivan Hasek.

“Sure, a win like that can do wonders for morale but we do not want to over-emphasise the importance of one game.

“This is a different tournament and a different team, and our goal is to keep our fans happy.”

Hasek is aware of the challenges that his side face against Pakhtakor, two-time semi-finalists and the only club to participate in all seven editions of the AFC Champions League.

Runners-up to Bunyodkor in the Uzbek league last season, Pakhtakor have started their domestic campaign with a 3-0 win over Bukhara and a 0-0 draw at Andijan.

“We are playing against a very dangerous side,” said Hasek.

“Physically they are strong and very dangerous from set-pieces, free-kicks and corner-kicks. They have some young players, who are very strong technically.

“They have a lot of quality. All the players have international experience, either with the youth team or the senior national team. They also have two very good professionals, the Serbian stopper, Bojan Miladinovic, and a midfielder from Montenegro, Darko Markovic.

“So it is going to be a very tough match for us.”

Miladinovic, a former Serbia national youth player, is Pakhtakor’s biggest import but they have also brought in youngsters Sherzod Karimov and Dilshod Sharofetdinov to strengthen the squad.

Pakhtakor coach Viktor Djalilov is hoping the new recruits will help the club both at home and abroad.

“We have some exciting new talents in the side,” he said. “Miladinovic has a lot of experience, though he has just turned 23. He has played many matches in Serbian league.

“Karimov was one of the heroes of at the AFC U19 Championship, while Sharofetdinov has great potential.

“So we are hoping for a good start to our campaign. Ahli are a good side and playing at home, but we have the side to get a positive result.”