While regular participants in Asian club competitions, Lion City Sailors did not advance past the group stage in their last two appearances in the AFC Champions League.

Aleksandar Rankovic's side, however, will fancy their chances of defeating Australia's Sydney FC but will know that Wednesday's first leg on home ground will be crucial.

They advanced to the knockout stage from a tough Group F, finishing top ahead of Thailand's Port FC on goal difference after both sides finished with 10 points.

They were phenomenal in the Round of 16, easily seeing off the challenge of Muangthong United 7-2 on aggregate.

Their campaign looked to be over following a 6-1 defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the first leg of the quarter-finals but were awarded the match with a 3-0 default score after the Japanese side were found to have fielded an ineligible player.

That meant a difficult return leg at the Jalan Besar Stadium but the Sailors held out bravely to force a 1-1 draw and will count on the same resilience to stop Sydney FC's charge.