The Korean team have five points and lie in a healthy second position in the pool behind Kawasaki Frontale.

Farias believes his side are capable of finishing in first place but knows it will not be easy tomorrow.

"We want to become the top side of our group because we would gain an advantageous position in the play-off series," he said.

"Three points will be perfect but we can accept one point anyway.

"We have no injuries and we are able to play good football on Tuesday. We won't underestimate Tianjin and I believe it will be a close game."

The Chinese side are bottom of Group H, having picked up only one point from their first three matches, and another defeat at Teda Stadium tomorrow could signal an early exit from the continental competition.

Coach Zuo Shusheng prefers to look on the positive side, though, and is hoping his team can turn the corner with a much-needed win.

He said: "I, along with other coaches, have had quite a few pep talks with the players recently and I think those efforts are having a positive impact on the team.

"Pohang are a superior team to us and they are able to control the tempo. But Tianjin are fearless. We are ready to face the challenges and we are determined to claim three points."

Tianjin will be without injured full-back Wang Xiao with youngster He Yang likely to deputise.

In tomorrow's other Group H match, leaders Frontale will look to extend their unbeaten record at home to Central Coast Mariners.

The Japanese outfit can secure a place in the last 16 if they win and Tianjin fail to beat Pohang.

Takashi Sekizuka's side triumphed 5-0 when the sides met in Australia two weeks ago, but the coach insists that result will have little bearing tomorrow.

"Every game is different and I'm sure the Mariners will be prepared with some counter-measures as it hasn't been long since we last played them," he said.

"We should be ready for that, with some counter-measures as well.

"This game will be important for us to get through the group stage. We'd like to win and collect three points to move closer to the qualification for the next round."

Mariners manager Lawrie McKinna, meanwhile, has urged his side to battle to "get some respect back" after the humiliating home defeat on April 8.

"A few days after the previous game, mentally everybody was very down," he said.

"But the Australian way is to come back and fight, and try to get some respect back.

"We had two good results in the first two games in the Champions League. There was a lot of respect to the way we played.

"It's going to be hard but we believe in ourselves. We've got a chance and we've got a few players coming back who missed the last game.

"We made a few changes as well. It's going to be a totally different team and we have nothing to lose."

Defender Predrag Bolic and forward Matt Simon are expected to return for Central Coast after serving suspensions.