Bahrain enter the tournament in fine form thanks to several impressive results during their preparation for the tournament, and are looking to improve on their 2004 Continental outing when they finished fourth.

Despite the potentially daunting task of facing a UAE team backed by their vocal fans at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Soukup is confident of his side’s prospects heading into their opening fixture.

Four years on from a third-place finish in Australia, Zaccheroni’s charges prepare to face their regional rivals looking to repeat the country’s famous run to the 1996 final when they narrowly lost on penalties to Saudi Arabia.

With excitement building ahead of the tournament’s first fixture, the Italian tactician believes the absence of influential midfielder Omar Abdulrahman and an injury doubt over defender Ismail Ahmed will not prove decisive as the Emiratis look to underline their current title ambitions and secure an immediate advantage in an intriguing Group A that also includes India and Thailand.

At the AFC Executive Committee meeting at the UAE capital, Shaikh Salman said: “Tomorrow we will witness the kick-off of the biggest-ever AFC Asian Cup when hosts, the United Arab Emirates, take on Bahrain.

“The AFC would like to thank the UAE Government, the Local Organising Committee - and all those involved in delivering this tournament - for their hard work during the past four years.

“History will be made with so many new initiatives for the AFC Asian Cup, which over the months have been introduced for this AFC Asian Cup.

Leading up to the biggest and best AFC Asian Cup, the White Wolves are looking forward to their opening match against Oman on January 9, says defender Anzur Ismailov.

Ismailov has the second most national team caps in the squad of 23 with 93 appearances and two goals to his name, and as Uzbekistan aim to make a mark in the 17th edition of the Continental showpiece, the 33-year-old Lokomotiv Tashkent player is confident of their chances against the West Asians.

The Cyprus-based forward was drafted in as a replacement for Martin Boyle, who failed to shake off a knee injury sustained in Australia’s 5-0 friendly win over Oman on Sunday, and is hoping to take his good form at club level into the continental championship.

“I’m really happy to be here, it was a really nice start of the year for me,” he said. “On the first of the year I got the call-up and I'm very happy and looking forward to being back with the boys and giving everything I have for the team.

“I feel good, been doing well this year. I’m ready whenever I’m needed to try to help the team that have been set out.”

Korea Republic and the Philippines will square off at the Al-Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. China and Kyrgyz Republic are the two other teams in the group.

Although Korea Republic have not won the continental title since 1960, the Taeguk Warriors are consistent performers at the AFC Asian Cup, having taken four runners-up and four third-place finishes. The Philippines, meanwhile, are making their first appearance at the Finals.