KUALA LUMPUR - Despite seeing his side drawn in one of the toughest sections for next year's AFC Champions League, Adelaide United CEO Michael Petrillo is looking forward to the prospect of watching the South Australian side compete in Asia's premier club football competition.

Adelaide were handed a tricky assignment for the group stage of the 2007 tournament on Thursday, when they were placed in Group G with China league and cup double winners Shandong Luneng, Korean league champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and Vietnam league champions Dong Tam Long.

"It's an exciting time for us this year. Whoever we drew would have been tough but it's an exciting time for us going into Asia," Petrillo said.

"We know Shandong will be difficult. We don't know much about the Vietnamese team and Seongnam will be difficult as well but I don't think any of the groups will be easy."

The Adelaide official downplayed the effects of the long away trips to China and Korea that the Australian club will face on their debut in Asian club competition.

"Australia is a big country and we have to do a lot of travelling when we play in our league.

"It's a lot to deal with but this will be the most travelling we have had to do."

Meanwhile, Shuzo Nakamura, general manager of Urawa Reds, is looking forward to the prospect of facing A-League champions Sydney FC in Group E.

"The three teams are really strong but we will try to do our best," said Nakamura, whose Urawa side recently claimed their first J.League championship.

"This year and last year, we had training camps in Sydney so we know what it takes to go there. We know that there are no problems for us with jet lag."

Nakamura indicated that he would be speaking to former Sydney FC coach Pierre Littbarski, who is now in charge of J.League side Avispa Fukuoka to find out more about the A-League champions.

"I'm a friend of Pierre Littbarski and I will be talking to him about Sydney FC and getting information about them from him.

"When we did our Sydney training camp this year, we were using their facilities so we know them well," Nakamura added.

Saudi giants Al Hilal are the most decorated club in Asian club competition with two Asian Club Championships, two Asian Cup Winners' Cups and two Asian Super Cups to their name. However, they have yet to get past the group stage of the AFC Champions League, a statistic that they are keen to put right next year.

Without the distractions of national team competitions, Al Hilal club general secretary Ahmed Al Khamis believes that the club will get it right this time.

"Our chances are equal. We have played in this competition three times before but in the past we have never done well because the match schedule has clashed with the Saudi national team," said Al Khamis.

"In the past, we have played in this competition without 11 of our best players but this time I hope nothing will stand in the way.

"The competition is scheduled after the Gulf Cup and the Asian Cup takes place after the group stage, so I'm hoping for a good performance from our team.

"All of the teams in our group are strong and Uzbekistan is a tough place to play. But we are also champions and we have won the most Asian titles and we will be looking to win the title again."