Having taken part in the Asian Cup seven times, the experienced West Asian powerhouse were drawn into Group D along with neighbours Bahrain, Yemen, and 2007 co-hosts and group stage contestants Malaysia, during a preliminary draw in Melbourne on Tuesday.

However, of greater importance currently is their World Cup aspiration, where the Qataris currently sit third in Group B of the Asian final qualification round hoping to finish in the top-two to secure a berth in Brazil 2014 finals.

“We only think about the match with Uzbekistan in World Cup qualifying now,” said Paulo Autuori (pic), the Qatar coach.

“We will start thinking about the Asian Cup qualifiers after the Uzbekistan match.”

Qatar, who have been busy with back-to-back friendlies in the run-up to the Uzbekistan clash, including their 1-1 draw with Jordan on Monday and Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Oman, however, will be well ready come crunch time.

“The draw is fair,” continued the Brazilian manager. “And we will prepare the team very well for the Asian Cup qualifiers.”

The Maroons will have Malaysia as their first opponents when the Asian Cup 2015 home-and-away qualifiers kick off across the continent on 6 February 2012.