Brisbane Roar expect their superior fitness will be a massive advantage when they face Shanghai Shenhua in their AFC Champions League (ACL) play-off.
Despite his side being clear underdogs against a side that boasts Carlos Tevez and Obafemi Martins, Roar coach John Aloisi has backed the visitors to outrun Shenhua on Wednesday night.
The weather conditions will also be foreign to Brisbane, coming from the heat of an Australian summer to the cold and rain in Shanghai with a maximum temperature of six degrees.
Aloisi, however, is relishing the shift in temperature.
"We are very happy that it's going to be cooler. We're a team that likes to play at a very high tempo, we're a very fit team that can run a lot and only two weeks ago we played in Wellington, which is very similar to this," Aloisi told reporters at the official pre-match press conference.
"With us being fit and maybe Shanghai Shenhua maybe not so fit because they are just starting their season, maybe it could be an advantage for us."
Tevez 'very close' to top form
The match will be Roar's fourth game in 11 days following a scoreless draw with Sydney FC on Friday, plus wins over Wellington Phoenix and Global FC - the latter in another ACL qualifier.
Besides the star quality at Shenhua's disposal, the Chinese Super League club are a bit of an unknown quantity for Brisbane as they are still in the middle of their pre-season and are under a new coach in Gus Poyet.
Aloisi admitted it's been hard to do much scouting of Shenhua under Poyet but identified captain Giovanni Moreno as vital to the hosts' chances.
Insider's View: Shanghai Shenhua
"I know a lot about Shanghai Shenhua from last season. I watched a lot of their games and analysed a lot of their games," the Roar boss said.
"I got a little bit of feedback in their pre-season games but no footage. I know they are a very good team with very good attacking players.
"We know Moreno has been here for nearly seven seasons now, he' probably the main figure of Shenhua and then Tevez and Martins going forward are very strong."
Brisbane will enter the match at Hongkou Football Stadium slightly undermanned after attacking midfielder Dimitri Petratos left the travelling squad on Monday to sign a contract with K League outfit Ulsan.
With Brett Holman having been left in Australia, Aloisi will have to find another option to take up the central playmaker's role behind striker Jamie Maclaren.
Thomas Broich and Tommy Oar, who both usually play on the left wing, are the main options for Aloisi.
Brandon Borrello could be critical for Roar's chances in China after he scored four goals in a 6-0 thumping of Global last week.
Brisbane are looking to qualify for the ACL's group stage for the third time in their history.
