Next year will be Roar’s first foray into the Asian Champions League – a competition that has proved difficult for virtually all A-League sides to progress past the group stage.

The Reds' success in 2008 - when they lost in the final to Gamba Osaka but exceeded all expectations by knocking out cashed up J-League and Uzbek sides on the way - has been the notable exception.

The ACL has been an expensive graveyard for clubs in Australia who have had to compete in the off-season against sides in season.

Stubbins, an integral part of Adelaide’s coaching staff in 2008 with then manager and now Olyroo boss Aurelio Vidmar, parted ways with the club earlier this year after Dutch coach Rini Coolen’s first season in charge.

The former NSL star with Heidelberg, and VPL championship winner as a coach, maintains improving coaching standards will eventually see clubs like Roar succeed in Asia with Aussie coaches.

“The Australian clubs can do it. It will be interesting to see how Brisbane goes this coming 2012 campaign,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“For me, they are the closest to being the most complete Australian team the A-League has seen.

“Perhaps Melbourne Victory will challenge that call but they never backed their claims with any success in the Champions League, whereas I reckon Roar could do well.”

The challenge for Roar and the Mariners will be combining a finals series in the A-League – if they qualify – with the group stages of the ACL.

The travel and the fatigue all play a part but, as the Reds showed, it can be done despite the obvious factors going against A-League teams.

“Ange won’t like me for putting the pressure on but that’s what the game’s all about isn’t it?" said Stubbins. "It won’t be easy but they have the potential to do well, as do the Mariners with their strong defensive attributes.

“Why shouldn’t teams from the A-League aim to be the best in Asia? It’s certainly a tough campaign but not impossible. At Adelaide United, we nearly pulled it off.”

Stubbins said the cultural cringe with local coaches continues though he concedes that is changing in an industry that has precious few full-time jobs.

“There are some excellent Aussie coaches and I don’t feel there is too much emphasis on their promotion," he said. "We constantly feel and imply that our homegrown coaches aren’t good enough. In my opinion, we are.

“Ange Postecoglou and Arnie did magnificent jobs this past campaign with Brisbane and the Mariners, as did Miron, Ricky Herbert and also Ernie Merrick who, again found the finals.

“Of all the foreign head coaches only one finished in the top six.”

The former Red is currently looking after the AIS programme in the absence of national youth coach Jan Versleijen and Gary Van Egmond who are both in Thailand with the Joeys.

He is also taking his Pro Diploma coaching licence which has featured FFA Technical Director Han Berger.

Stubbins added: “When you consider almost half of the league employed foreign coaches last year, it poses some difficult questions to the homegrown products to actually try and carve out a career path in the game here.

“It shouldn’t be that way in my opinion.”