Frontale needed extra time to defeat Qatar’s Al Sadd 3-2 in the quarter-finals, but Hasebe is adamant that his side will be ready for a star-studded Al Nassr.

“We don't have much time to prepare after the quarter-final, but we’ll do our best tomorrow. It’s not going to be easy – we know that. Al Nassr have big name players with great experience and skill, and we must stay alert,” said Hasebe.

“All our players are tired after playing 120 minutes, which is tough, but we’ve had a good recovery session. The pitch and atmosphere will be different, and for some of us, it’s a new stadium. But I believe our players will perform well. We have to be prepared mentally and tactically.”

“The most important thing is to score the first goal and take control of the game. Set-pieces and controlling possession will be crucial. Al Nassr have many key players and are strong in attack but defensively, we’ve seen areas we can exploit. 

“Japanese teams are known for playing collectively, both in attack and defence, and we have to use that to our advantage. They have a strong counter-attack, so we must stay disciplined.

“We respect them, but we are not afraid. We know we can win. Everyone thinks Saudi teams will dominate, but I want to challenge that belief.”

For Stefano Pioli, Al Nassr are in a familiar position, having reached the semi-finals for the third time and the Italian believes this could finally be the year the Riyadh-based club break through to their first-ever final.

“This is a very important semi-final match, and the team is well-prepared and fully focused on winning. We’re excited and ready to give our all,” said Pioli. 

“We know our opponents well, having studied them through video analysis. They are organised, fast and deserving of their place here but so are we."

Having dispatched Yokohama F. Marinos with a convincing 4-1 win in the quarter-finals, Al Nassr enter the semi-finals with confidence but also the weight of past near-misses.

“Our performance keeps improving, and we’re working hard to be in top condition, a reflection of the strength of Saudi Arabian teams. We’ll finalise our lineup during training and do everything we can to win.”

Venue: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)

Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:30 (UTC+3)