The team flies out on Sunday ahead of the Wednesday night clash fresh from their own 0-0 ten-man draw with K-League side Suwon Bluewings on match day one.

No A-League club has ever won an ACL tie on the road in Japan and fellow A-League club Melbourne Victory’s disastrous 5-1 loss to Gamba Osaka in their opening group tie has Cole even more determined to save face in Japan.

“The start to most of these games is going to be key. We saw that with three goals within ten minutes [for Gamba],” Cole, 26, told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“Melbourne, it was unfortunate for them but it’s a real warning for us about how difficult it can be to play in their environment.

“Those guys [in the J-League] are just kicking off the start of their season so off the back of a pre-season usually that means everyone is raring to go."

Sydney will hope to resurrect their battling performance not only against Suwon but the last time they played in an ACL tie in Japan. In 2007 the Sky Blues drew 0-0 with Holger Osieck’s Urawa Red Diamonds in Saitama – the eventual winners of the tournament.

“The other night [against Suwon] it really gave us confidence that we can compete with these teams but we have to expect it to be difficult," he said.

“We’ve got enough good players to win games. So it’s being about very tactically disciplined.”

Sydney FC played a 4-2-3-1 against Suwon with Bruno Cazarine as the lone sole striker backed by Nick Carle, Hiro Moriyasu and David Williams as the attacking midfield options.

It remains to be seen how Vitezslav Lavicka plays this crucial tie tactically, but he's expecting big things from Moriyasu who should feel right at home.

The hard-working midfielder has been looking forward to heading back home with his A-League team ever since the club was confirmed for the ACL last season.

“I’m going back to my own country to play one of the best teams in Japan. They’ve got in a lot of new players and their attackers are all skilful and technical,” the former Shimizu S-Pulse junior and Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC player told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It’ll be a tough game, hopefully we don’t get a red card but it’ll be fun speaking in Japanese [at the press conferences].”

The Sky Blues warmed up for the Kashima clash with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over APIA Leichhardt  in a friendly hit-out on Wednesday night.

A 2-1 deficit at the break was dragged back with Mark Bridge bagging a hat-trick in front of a healthy crowd at the NSW premier league club’s inner-west base.