Both teams have already qualified for the last 16 with unbeaten records and a continuation of that would see Pakhtakor earn a home tie in the next round.

Al Hilal, meanwhile, must record a fourth win to avoid a meeting with fellow Saudi Arabia side Ettifaq, who have already secured top spot in Group D.

“We need a good result, at least a draw. But we will be without two key defenders Ilhomjon Suyunov and Gulom Urunov who are suspended,” said Pakhtakor coach Victor Djalilov.

“I have said many times that we prefer to play the round of 16 match at home to bring joy for our supporters and we looking forward to being in first place in our group.”

“We probably could use our most experienced defender Asror Aliqulov who has already missed a few matches due to injury.

“We played our last league match against Neftchi Fergana with Suyunov and Urunov in the back line because it was not right time for experiments with defensive line.”

Al Hilal will again be without influential striker Yasser Al Qahtani through suspension following his dismissal against Al Ahli at the end of April.

Midfielders Ahmed Al Fraidi, who has recently undergone successful knee surgery, and Khaled Aziz will also be unavailable for caretaker coach Abdullatif Al Hussaini.

"We have a tough game against Pakhtakor where we will be looking to play well and get a good result at the same time," said Al Hussaini, who stepped up from assistant after Georges Leekens’ short spell in charge was ended earlier this month.

"Our main target is to win the group and this is what we have been looking for since the start of the competition.

"Winning the group will give us a chance to play in Riyadh in round 16 and hopefully we can make it. Our fans will play a big role in the game and I hope that they will be there in big numbers to support the players."