With all four teams still mathematically able to progress from Group A, there are a number of different scenarios that could see any one of them qualify.

The equation for Uzbekistan, though, is simple; avoid defeat at Al Gharafa Stadium and Vadim Abramov's men are into the last eight.

However Akhmedov, who scored one of the goals of the tournament in the opening game against Qatar, is keen to book their ticket in style.

“One point will be enough to reach the next stage but we are not satisfied with a draw, we want to beat China and we will try our best to do it,” he said.

Uzbekistan came into the tournament with a number of injury problems, including influential defender Vitaly Denisov, but following impressive wins over Qatar and then Kuwait, Abramov now has another kind of headache ahead of the China encounter.

“Unfortunately we had some injured players such as Denisov but now we have another problem in that we have too many good players,” he said.

“The first 11 players keep winning so I cannot change them.”

Uzbekistan's encouraging start has also re-enforced Abramov's view that they can claim their first-ever continental title.

“We came here to win this tournament and my position has not changed,” he added.

“South Korea, Japan, Australia, Iran, Iraq, these are all strong teams and it will be difficult but we plan to win this tournament.

“Four teams have chance to qualify from our group. Before this game I know China have a chance to beat us, I think it will be a hard game but we will see.

“I know my team can play much better than our two games so far and I hope, step by step that in the next round after China we play much better.

“Of course we hope to continue finding the back of the net. It's always pleasant to score goals. I believe Uzbekistan is a strong team and we must beat China but this is a hard game.”