Both sides are level at the top of the table and whoever comes out on top at Central Stadium on Tuesday will take a huge step towards the last 16.

“I don’t want to speak a lot before the match. You’ll see everything tomorrow. We won both our previous matches with a 1-0 score line and I will be happy if we could win tomorrow too.

“For me, the most important thing is not scoring lots of goals but my team winning. We have won both matches and that means that we are going the right way. We have no problems with the squad before the game either.”

Balaci will be without Khaled Al Shammari after the defender was banned for eight games for spitting at Al Jaish players during a 1-0 win in Syria (pictured) and the Romanian made light of Ayoub Odisho’s claim it would indeed be the Syrians claiming the runners-up spot behind Nasaf.

“The Jaish coach said they will second in the group? Probably he said it before the game,” joked Balaci.

“Both Kazma and Nasaf have six points and we need only four points in the remaining matches to qualify.

“We are not afraid to finish second in the group and play the Round of 16 match away because we are also good when we play away.”

Nasaf earned a hard-fought 2-1 home win over Al Jaish last week before beating Zarafashan in the Uzbekistan Cup in a game that saw Siarhey Krot make a second-half appearance after picking up an injury against the Syrians, meaning he could feature on Tuesday.

Islom Inomov is suspended, however, and despite the games coming thick and fast, boss Victor Kumikov believes his side are in good enough shape to face Kazma having been able to rest most of his senior players against Zarafashan.

“We have only had two days preparation for the Kazma game but I think we will manage our recovery. I hope you’ll see good match,” he said.

“We don’t have any proper information about out opponents. I think they will play with an attacking style.

“We are thinking about a replacement for Islom Inomov who is suspended. We have two options but the final decision will be made tomorrow (Tuesday).”