Culina told Shanghai TV on Monday that his son, who plays for PSV Eindhoven, helped to collect information about Shenhua because Sun Xiang, a Shenhua left winger, is now playing for the Dutch side on loan.

"I know they are newly merged," he said. "It usually takes a little time for a merged team to sort it out."

David Carney has added to Sydney FC's injury woes ahead of the match after falling victim to flu.

The midfielder has missed most of his side's training sessions recently but flew out with the rest of the squad to China on Sunday.

Culina is hopeful he will be fit for the game and he is also monitoring the condition of fellow flu victim Justin Pasfield.

There are also concerns over veteran playmaker Steve Corica, who suffered a hamstring strain in the 2-0 victory over Blacktown last Wednesday.

But, although he has been absent from some training sessions, he is confident he will take his place in the side.

"I did the warm-up with the team, but apart from that I just did a lot of stretching and deep-water running and some jogging," Corica told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"I jogged without any pain, so that was a good sign. I'm pretty confident of playing."

Meanwhile, Shanghai Shenhua manager Osvaldo Gimenez Toledo insists his side will be gunning for victory in their AFC Champions League Group E encounter with Sydney FC at the Yuanshen Stadium on Wednesday.

Shenhua were defeated in disappointing fashion by Beijing Guo'an in the first round of China Super League on Saturday and the Uruguay coach said he would fine-tune the squad and show fans the improvement in the ACL opener.

"We have to forget what happened in the past and focus on the AFC match," Gimenez said. "We are finding our problems and trying to sort them out."

Gimenez didn't say what strategy he would employ in Wednesday's game.

However, when asked whether he foresaw three losses in a row for the new season, he insisted "that is out of question".

"I have watched some of Sydney FC's games on video," he added, declining to comment further on the Australian side.

Zhu Jun, who became Shenhua's new boss after merging his side Shanghai United with the CSL powerhouse, said he plans on capturing the ACL title this year.

"To reach the AFC championship is not a slogan," he said. "We will do whatever we should do to attain the goal."

For Gimenez, he will have to make a tough decision on the defence with skipper Li Weifeng, widely believed to be China's best centre-back, suspended after receiving a red card last year in an ACL quarter-final clash against Jeonbuk Motors.

Chang Lin is the most likely candidate to replace Li and could partner Du Wei.

Diego Alonso, Fernando Edgardo Correa and Sergio Blanco will also have to show their value in attack on Wednesday by shaking off their indifferent form on Saturday which disappointed local fans.

"Please trust us," said Alonso. "We will find our form soon and make Shenhua better."


AFC Champions League Group E match
Shanghai Shenhua v Sydney FC
Yuanshen Stadium, Shanghai
Wednesday, March 7, 2007 (10.00pm AEDT - live on Fox Sports Two)

Shanghai Shenhua squad (coach: Osvaldo Gimenez)
1 Wang Dalei (goalkeeper)
2 Yao Lijun
3 Dong Yang
4 Chang Lin
5 Du Wei
6 Liu Zhiqing
7 Xiao Zhanbo
8 Sergio Blanco
9 Diego Alonso
10 Fernando Correa
11 Zhang Xiaorui
12 Zhang Chen (goalkeeper)
13 Cheng Liang
14 Shen Longyuan
15 Wang Ke
16 Yu Tao
17 Sun Ji
18 Zheng Kewei
19 Li Chengming
20 Xie Hui
21 Jiang Kun
22 Dong Lei (goalkeeper)
23 Li Weifeng
24 Li Gang
25 Yin Xifu
26 Wang Hongliang
27 Mao Jianqing
28 Qu Shaoyan
29 Gao Lin
30 Lu Xin

Sydney FC squad (coach: Branko Culina)
1 Clint Bolton (goalkeeper)
2 Iain Fyfe
3 Nikolas Tsattalios
4 Mark Rudan
5 Noel Spencer
6 Ufuk Talay
7 Robbie Middleby
9 David Zdrilic
10 Steve Corica
11 Nikolai Topor-Stanley
12 David Carney
14 Alex Brosque
16 Mark Milligan
18 Adam Casey
19 Luka Glavas
23 Justin Pasfield (goalkeeper)