There’s a new era at the Jeddah-based club with Bosnian Marino Pusic now the head coach after three seasons with Matthias Jaissle, who has since joined English side Newcastle United.

Stalwarts Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessie have departed while Enzo Millot has been sent on loan to fellow Saudi Pro League side Al Diriyah.

Al Ahli have, however, brought in midfielders Francisco Trincao from Sporting CP and Eduard Spertsyan from FC Krasnodar.

Al Ahli are the more match-fit side with the Saudi Pro League now underway as Pusic made a perfect start to life at the club. A 1-0 win against Al Diriyah was followed by a 4-0 hammering of Abha Club, with Ivan Toney scoring a hat-trick and Trincao opening his account for the club.

As for Auckland, they have not played a competitive match since winning the A-League Championship trophy in May with only a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur in July under their belts but head coach Pedro Moreira has reinforced the squad with the signing of Lachlan Bayliss from Newcastle Jets.

The winners of the African-Asian-Pacific Cup will play the triumphant team from the Derby of the Americas, which is the second-round fixture contested by the Concacaf Champions Cup and Copa Libertadores winners, in the Challengers Cup.

The winners of the Challengers Cup will face UEFA Champions League title holders Paris Saint-Germain, who receive a direct route to the final, with the FIFA Intercontinental Cup trophy on the line.