All the omens are now looking good for Sydney to pull off an amazing coup by topping their group on their ACL debut...and qualifying for the quarter-final knockout stage.

Their impressive second half performance against Persik Kediri saw them thrash the Indonesian side 3-0 just a fortnight after they were defeated by almost the same team 2-1 in Java.

But that wasn’t even Sydney’s best starting line-up with Dave Carney and Ruben Zadkovich suspended and Mark Milligan, Mark Rudan and Robbie Middleby nursing injuries.

Carney and Zadko are now back, and the injured players have had more time shake off their niggles.

Sydney are second in their group, behind Japanese J-League champions Urawa Reds, and one point ahead of surprise package Persik.

While Sydney face Shanghai, Persik take on Urawa – and could do Sydney a huge favour by beating the odd-on favourites.

With home wins against Shanghai and Sydney already under their belt, Persik team manager Iwan Boedianto reckons his team can also tame the Japanese when they go to Indonesia, and hopes to turn up the heat on visitors.

“We are playing with Danilo when we play against Urawa next time. He is our general in midfield,” he said. “The Japanese do not do very well in the heat. I hope it is hot for them.”

Although it would help, Sydney can't just rely on a Persik win to ensure their qualification though. Anything less than a win against Shanghai would then leave Sydney in second place to Persik.

While the maths gets complicated, the bottom line is simple:- Sydney must win both its final games to guarantee qualification.

Luckily, they’re facing an already disappointing Shanghai side which has simply failed to fire in the Champions League – and is now struggling to find form in its domestic league.

Shanghai have only earned one point so far in the competition – in a goalless draw against a ten-man Urawa Reds – and have no chance of qualifying.

Sydney will be hoping the Chinese side will be focussing on their domestic campaign which was looking good until it was derailed last month against Dalian Shide, when a three match winning run came to an end with a defeat, and a draw at home over the weekend against Zhejiang Lvcheng.

They are now in fifth place in the Chinese Super League but just two points behind the top of the table with everything still to play for – and may encourage them to field a second string side for the Sydney game.

Sydney of course have already beaten Shanghai once, beating them 2-1 away from home in their very first ACL match – and will go into the rematch at home confident they can again crush Shenhua.

Manager Branko Culina now has a full-time two year contract with the club to boost his confidence, and having already played the side, Culina will be in a much stronger position to outplay them again.

“I think they might be concentrating more on their domestic competition because they're right up there in their division," Culina revealed. "They will probably be more focused on that than the Champions League."

But he warned: "It will still be a difficult game, they are a good side. We are expected to win and they will have all the pressure off them. They might be more relaxed and just play a game where they enjoy themselves.

"Hopefully we'll have enough at stake that our players lift up a gear."

But Shanghai midfielder Xiao Zhanbo warns: “We may be out but we won’t give up for our last two AFC Champions League games because we do not want to disgrace Chinese soccer.”

THE DANGER MEN

SYDNEY
STEVE CORICA
He was transformed into Steve Cori-Kaka in the second half against Persik with a fabulous brace of goals that guaranteed victory for the Aussies. At the heart of the midfield, Corica played the part of three players, his own role, filling in for the missing Carney and bolstering a misfiring strike force.

DAVE CARNEY
His runs up the wing were badly missed in the first half of the Persik game but McFlynn and Corica stepped into his shoes admirably. Currently has a slight injury but Culina will be hoping to have that cleared in time for kick-off against Shanghai.

DAVID ZDRILIC
Critics were praising his performance against Persik where he played a key role in setting up two of Sydney’s three goals but the truth is, he needs to up his game. He has an undoubted talent for getting into the right position to score – but he must finish better than he has. This match could be the showcase for him to shine in the striker’s role.


SHANGHAI SHENUA
WANG DALEI
The man to beat if Sydney have any hope of qualifying – Shanghai’s goalkeeper has had an erratic record so far in the ACL, but kept his first clean sheet against Urawa Reds thanks to a couple of superb reflex reaction saves. Sydney’s finishing will have to be at its best to get past this keeper if he’s having a good day.

FERNANDO CORREA
The veteran Uruguayan midfielder is a key part of Shanghai’s line-up, even if he lacks the puff to last a full 90 minutes these days. At 34, his best days are behind him and Culina’s fast pass-and-run style of play should keep him out of contention in the middle of the park.

XIE HUN
The chief Shanghai danger upfront and was always at the centre of the action during Shanghai’s first half siege of the Urawa goal in their last match. The former Aachen striker is the Chinese side’s key hope of finding the back of the net and will pepper the opposition goal repeatedly but can just lack the direction needed to score.