Miles conceded costs associated with playing in the ACL “are pretty high”.

"There is the extra cost over three months of employing a football support staff full-time and potentially extra players and their salaries,” he said after the ACL draw.

The draw sees Victory clash with Gamba Osaka, Chonburi and Chunnam Dragons in the ACL group stage between March and May 2008.

“And we found from talking with Sydney and Adelaide United earlier this year that the allowances for the away legs given by the Asian Footballl Confederation were not sufficient to cover the costs. So we will have some significant costs,” Miles said.

However, he is hopeful that Victory's huge fan base will turn up in large numbers. With the gate going to the home side, it's hoped this will defray some of the financial burden of competing in the region's premier club competition.

Currently, the big money is made by the winners of the tournament, which go on to play in the lucrative Club World Cup in Japan (won this weekend by AC Milan over Boca Juniors).

“Yes, it's a little uncertain but it's certainly an opportunity commercially to build the profile of Melbourne and Victoria and provide extra exposure and value for our existing sponsors such as Samsung,” he added.

It's understood ACL clubs have limited revenue raising avenues.

The tournament's marketing arm, World Sports Group, have an agreement with the AFC which benefits the company but restricts key money raising by the competing clubs.

Miles added that Victory members will have priority for ACL tickets at Telstra Dome but existing memberships won't cover the three Asian matches.