Thailand's SCG Muang Thong United and Buriram United face tough tasks in today's penultimate group games of the AFC Champions League.
Muang Thong coach Slavisa Jokanovic.
Thai Premier League champions Muang Thong are bottom of Group F with only one point and must win at South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to stand any chance of advancing to the knockout stage.
Group E is still wide open with Buriram (five points) at home to Japan's Vegalta Sendai (five) and leaders FC Seoul of South Korea (seven) travelling to China's Jiangsu Sainty (four).
The top two teams of each group progress to the round of 16.
At Jeonju, Muang Thong coach Slavisa Jokanovic said his team could still qualify for the next round.
"We must win and we can beat Jeonbuk," he told reporters at yesterday's press conference.
Muang Thong are without several players, including suspended midfielder Mario Gjurovski and injured defenders Kim Yoo Jin and Thitiphan Puangjan, but Jokanovic insisted other players are equally good.
"A number of our players are not here but I have faith in whoever will start for us tomorrow," he said. "Hopefully they do well and get a good result."
Muang Thong's attack will be led by Teerasil Dangda, who was suspended in his team's 4-1 home loss to China's Guangzhou Evergrande two weeks ago.
Jeonbuk coach Fabio Lefundes said: "This is an important match for both teams. We hope to create a good result and qualify for the last 16 round."
In the other Group F match, Guangzhou need a point at Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds to advance.
In Group E, Thai FA Cup champions Buriram put their campaign back on track after a 2-0 home win against Jiangsu two weeks ago and will move a step closer to reaching the next round with another home victory against Sendai.
"To reach our target of reaching the next round, we must win tomorrow," Buriram coach Attapol Bussapakom said.
Although a couple of the Thunder Castle's key players need late fitness tests, they welcome back midfielders Anawin Jujeen and Suree Sukha, who were both suspended for the previous game.
However, Buriram will be without Thai-Swiss midfielder Charyl Chappuis, who is out for up to three months after injuring his knee while celebrating his goal against Jiangsu.
FIXTURES
GROUP E
Buriram United (THA) v Vegalta Sendai (JPN) at 6pm
Jiangsu Sainty (CHN) v FC Seoul (KOR) at 7:40pm
STANDINGS
!P!W!D!L!F!A!Pts!
FC Seoul!4!2!1!1!7!3!7!
Vegalta Sendai!4!1!2!1!3!3!5!
Buriram United!4!1!2!1!3!3!5!
Jiangsu Sainty!4!1!1!2!3!7!4!
GROUP F
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) v Muang Thong (THA) at 7pm
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) v Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) at 7:30pm
STANDINGS
!P!W!D!L!F!A!Pts!
Guangzhou!4!3!1!0!12!2!10!
Jeonbuk Motors!4!1!3!0!8!6!6!
Urawa Red Diamonds!4!1!1!2!7!9!4!
Muang Thong!4!0!1!3!4!14!1!