GAMBA Osaka will head into the unknown at the start of their Asian Champions League defence but captain Satoshi Yamaguchi is confident the new-look J.League side can again mount a challenge.
Gamba, who only secured a place in the competition with victory in Japan's Emperor's Cup on New Year's Day, have been drawn in Group F alongside Chinese champions Shandong Luneng, FC Seoul from South Korea and Indonesia's Sriwijaya.
Yamaguchi played a significant role in Gamba's defence during the Champions League success, but the Osaka club are expected to undergo a revamp during the close season with the group phase of the competition kicking off on March 10.
"We haven't played any of them before. But we know that in Asia teams from South Korea and China play at a high level and will be tough," said Yamaguchi.
"All the games will be tough, but we will do what we can do from our very first match.
"We'll be a new team for the 2009 season and we will go out as a unit to win the title."
J.League champions Kashima Antlers, who reached the quarter-finals last year, will play China's Shanghai Shenhua, Korean champions Suwon Bluewings and the winners of the east Asian play-off in Group G.
"We will use our experience from last year," said defender Daiki Iwamasa.
"We know how Shanghai play as we have been there before for the Shanghai International Tournament in 2006. We didn't play Shanghai Shenhua but I've got some ideas about their game.
"Suwon Bluewings will be a tough opponent to play as they are the Korean champions. But it's going to be a good game as the champions from Korea and Japan will play each other."
J.League runners-up Kawasaki Frontale, the 2007 quarter-finalists, feature in Group H alongside Australia's Central Coast Mariners, Tianjin Teda of China and two-time champions Pohang Steelers from South Korea.
"All the opponents are strong," said Kawasaki's Japan midfielder Kengo Nakamura.
"We will do our best in each game to get through the group stage, but we are going for the title."
A-League champions Newcastle Jets, who are currently languishing at the foot of the Australian top flight, have been drawn in Group E alongside former Asian champions Ulsan Hyundai, Japan's Nagoya Grampus Eight and China's Beijing Guoan.
"There won't be an easy game," said Grampus' Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki.
"But we should believe in ourselves and we will play our brand of football. We'd like to move forward as much as we can as a representative of Japan and the J.League."
Yamaguchi played a significant role in Gamba's defence during the Champions League success, but the Osaka club are expected to undergo a revamp during the close season with the group phase of the competition kicking off on March 10.
"We haven't played any of them before. But we know that in Asia teams from South Korea and China play at a high level and will be tough," said Yamaguchi.
"All the games will be tough, but we will do what we can do from our very first match.
"We'll be a new team for the 2009 season and we will go out as a unit to win the title."
J.League champions Kashima Antlers, who reached the quarter-finals last year, will play China's Shanghai Shenhua, Korean champions Suwon Bluewings and the winners of the east Asian play-off in Group G.
"We will use our experience from last year," said defender Daiki Iwamasa.
"We know how Shanghai play as we have been there before for the Shanghai International Tournament in 2006. We didn't play Shanghai Shenhua but I've got some ideas about their game.
"Suwon Bluewings will be a tough opponent to play as they are the Korean champions. But it's going to be a good game as the champions from Korea and Japan will play each other."
J.League runners-up Kawasaki Frontale, the 2007 quarter-finalists, feature in Group H alongside Australia's Central Coast Mariners, Tianjin Teda of China and two-time champions Pohang Steelers from South Korea.
"All the opponents are strong," said Kawasaki's Japan midfielder Kengo Nakamura.
"We will do our best in each game to get through the group stage, but we are going for the title."
A-League champions Newcastle Jets, who are currently languishing at the foot of the Australian top flight, have been drawn in Group E alongside former Asian champions Ulsan Hyundai, Japan's Nagoya Grampus Eight and China's Beijing Guoan.
"There won't be an easy game," said Grampus' Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki.
"But we should believe in ourselves and we will play our brand of football. We'd like to move forward as much as we can as a representative of Japan and the J.League."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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