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With no Japanese team having previously made it past the group stages of the competition, a draw for Reds at the Saitama Stadium will see both of this year's participants in the draw for the last eight.

However, Marcus Tulio Tanaka may not be available for the Group E showdown due to a leg injury which forced the Japan defender to miss the J.League game at Nagoya Grampus Eight on Saturday.

Nevertheless, Osieck believes his side are more than capable of completing the job against the Australians.

"It's a great opportunity for us to qualify for the next round," he said.

"That's our target and we are in a position to make it happen on Wednesday. I think our players know very well what has to be done.

"This is a very, very important game for the club,"

Despite only needing a point, former Japan midfielder Shinji Ono insisted the Reds would not be playing for a draw.

"We know our opponents want to beat us and it won't be an easy game," he said.

"But we'll play as a unit, including those who won't get to play on the day.

"We'll get through to the quarter-finals with the win."

The Reds battled back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw in their previous meeting in Sydney on March 21.

Osieck underlined that his team are much improved from two months ago and Wednesday's encounter would be "a completely different game".

The German coach added: "Sydney have some players with quality and if it goes their way, they can be dangerous.

"But I think we are aware of that and are well prepared. We are ready for them.

"I'm confident that we are a strong team, definitely. We can reach our target on Wednesday. I'm convinced about that."

For Sydney, only a win will do if they are to make the knockout stages of the competition in the inaugural season for A-League clubs.

Boss Branko Culina has injury worries over Mark Rudan and Ufuk Talay, who have calf and hamstring strains respectively, while Iain Fyfe picked up a knock during training, although all three are expected to be fit to play.

Robert Middleby is suspended, however.

Sydney will have to pull off what on paper appears to be an unlikely victory in front of 60,000 fanatical fans in Saitama, and Culina is in no doubt how big an achievement it would be if they managed it.

"Trying to beat Urawa Reds in Japan is the biggest challenge that Sydney FC has encountered in its short history," he told the club's official website, www.sydneyfc.com.

"For Sydney FC to qualify for the last eight of the AFC Champions League in its first season would be an enormous achievement.

"World Cups aside, if Sydney wins in Japan it will be the greatest achievement in Australian football history."

And the Serbian coach believes the fact they need three points to qualify after being held to a goalless draw by Shanghai Shenhua two weeks ago will work to their advantage.

"We are far more comfortable when we are allowed to express ourselves and play our attacking football," added Culina.

"I think the pressure will be on Urawa Reds, who, like us, like to attack.

"All of a sudden they will be required to sit back and hold on to a result."