Saudi representatives in the AFC Champions League will be looking to make their mark on the continental stage when they kick off their campaign on Tuesday and Wednesday. Four Saudi teams are participating in the new edition of the AFC Champions league alongside Asian giants. Two–time winner Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Shabab and Al-Ittifaq have been drawn in different groups in the competition which kicks off Tuesday. Al-Hilal, which won six different Asian titles before the competitions were restructured, has failed to make it to the Champions league's knockout stage. Al-Hilal hosts Saba Battery of Iran in their Group A opener at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh Tuesday. Al-Hilal will also face Pakhtakor of Uzbakistan and the UAE's Al-Ahli in its group matches. The second Saudi representative Al-Shabab, which is in Group B, will be seeking a bright start this time around having failed to leave a good impression in recent years. Al-Shabab has flown to Doha to face Al-Gharafa on Tuesday. Group B also consists of Piroozi Athletic of Iran and Al-Sharjah of the UAE. The other Saudi teams Al-Ittihad and Al-Ittifaq will play their opening games on Wednesday when Al-Ittihad will host Iran's Esteglal at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah and Dammam's Al-Ittifaq will take on the Uzbek side Bunyodkor away. Two-time winner Al-Ittihad has been drawn in Group C which also includes two Gulf teams - Qatar's Umm-Salal and Al-Jazira of the UAE. Al-Ittifaq, meanwhile, in its first AFC Champions League appearance plays Sepahan of Iran and the UAE's Al-Shabab in Group D. Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab who play their matches on Tuesday have completed their preparations for their matches. Al-Hilal, which recently won the Crown Prince Cup, will be aiming to win all the three points while Al-Shabab's task will be somewhat difficult against the former Saudi team coach Marcos Paquita of Al-Gharafa. Al-Hilal will be relying on its strong midfield that comprises Swedish Christian Wilhelmsson, Libyan Tariq Al-Taib and Romanian Meril Radoi. After having failed to hire a new coach on a short notice, Al-Hilal management has opted to put faith in Assistant Coach Nicolas Katalin. Katalin is expected to start the match with his usual squad that includes striker Yasser Al-Qahtani. Al-Hilal's power lies in defense after the team added Al-wehdah'a Osamah Al-Hawsawi who joined forces with Majed Al-Marshadi, Abdullah Al-Zori, Mohammed Nami ahead of the ace keeper Mohammed Al-Daeyea to boost the team's defense. Al-Shabab has also prepared well for its game against Al-Gharafa and has many changes to the squad. The team signed Kuwaiti striker Ahmed Ajab, Qatari Talal Al-Bolwshi to play beside Marcello Camatcho, who is representing the team for the second year in a row. Coach Enzo Trossero will be depending on striker Nasser Al-Shamrani but he will miss the services of defender Majed Al
