The Japanese side won both encounters against Melbourne back in 2008, edging a 4-3 thriller at AAMI Park before then securing a 2-0 victory on home soil at Expo' 70 Stadium, and then went on to claim the continental crown.

However, they have struggled to come close to repeating that feat in the last two editions of the AFC Champions League and Nishino is determined to see that record change, starting with three points.

"In the last two years, we couldn't go beyond the Round of 16 and felt the difficulties of playing in the knockout stage," he said.

"But this year, we would like to emulate our success of 2008, and we want to play with that challenge."

Victory coach Ernie Merrick feels his side are a much changed from the one that lost twice to Gamba back in 2008.

"That was only our third season in football, we have now played six seasons," said the Scot.

"We have Archie Thompson back to full fitness, Danny Allsopp too. We also have Robbie Kruse, who is going to Germany at the end of the season.

"Gamba Osaka are a very good team. They finished second in the championship. Their coach is very good, he's been here nine or 10 years.

In the other game in the group, Jeju United make their first appearance in the tournament when they take on Chinese side Tianjin Teda at Jeju World Cup Stadium.

The Koreans have lost key midfielder Koo Ja-cheol after the 21-year-old joined German side Vfl Wolfsburg, but coach Park Kyung-hoon has high hopes his players will step up and do the team proud.

"We are the K-League's oldest team but this is the first time we have appeared in the AFC Champions League," he said.

"There is a mixture of nerves and anticipation. As a representative of the K-League, we naturally want to do our best and win this game."

Tianjin Teda coach Arie Haan warned his players of the perils of underestimating their opponents.

"They may not have AFC Champions League experience but they have players with lots of other kinds of experience so Jeju can do well," he said.