Thailand Premier League champions Muang Thong United host Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors tonight, in their first match of the AFC Champions League, while Buriram United must brave the cold after travelling to Japan for their opener against Vegalta Sendai.
Buriram United players walk in the snow in Sendai before their AFC Champions League match.
Muang Thong coach Slavisa Jokanovic acknowledged his team has a difficult group but remains confident his side are ready for the challenge.
''We are not looking to be the favourites in the group,'' Jokanovic said.
''The first match with Jeonbuk will be an important match for us. They are a strong team but we have prepared well and are looking forward to the match.''
Jeonbuk's caretaker manager, Brazilian Fabio Lefundes, was equally confident and insisted the local conditions would not affect his side.
''We don't have any problems with the heat here because we went to train in Brazil,'' he said.
''We have studied many games of Muang Thong's. They are the champions of Thailand and we cannot underestimate them at all.
''However, we have come here to win and our goal is to reach the final after we won the title in 2006.''
Buriram, Thailand's other representative in the competition, edged out Australia's Brisbane Roar on penalties in the play-offs earlier this month and the Thai FA Cup winners will be hoping to build on that victory against Sendai.
''Sendai have a very strong team and we will have to be at our best against them,'' coach Attapol Busapakom said.
''We played against Sendai last year and they are a good team. It will be the second time we've played them and we will have to work harder than before.''
Attapol conceded, though, that his players are unaccustomed to the plummeting temperatures in Sendai, where it has been snowing.
''We don't have players who have experienced cold weather before,'' he admitted. ''So we must make sure we are prepared for this.''
The match between Muang Thong United and Jeonbuk Motors will kick off at 7pm at the SCG Stadium in Muang Thong Thani, while the match between Buriram United and Vegalta Sendai will start at 5pm and will be live on Fox Sport True Visions 109.
FIXTURES
Group E: At Sendai City: Vegalta Sendai (JPN) v Buriram United (THA)
Group F: At Nonthaburi: Muang Thong United (THA) v Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)