The 28-year-old Korea Republic international has been ruled out of the first-leg encounter at Riyadh’s King Fahd International Stadium after damaging a muscle in his left leg during the Qatari club’s Sheikh Jassim Cup win over domestic rivals Al Duhail SC on August 17.

With nine Continental trophies and 23 Saudi League titles between them, Al Hilal and Al Ittihad are Saudi Arabia’s most successful teams and two of Asia’s greatest sides, but only one of them will make it to the last four of the 2019 AFC Champions League.

Al Hilal have reached the semi-finals three times in the past five years, while time has not been kind to two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad, whose last semi-final appearance dates back to 2012 when they lost to city rivals Al Ahli.

Now 37 years old and in the twilight of his career, Abe is the only member of Urawa’s playing staff remaining from the side that defeated Sepahan of Islamic Republic of Iran in the final of the 2007 AFC Champions League as Reds became the first Japanese club to win the title.

Ten years later – and with Abe still in the team - Urawa repeated the feat, seeing off Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia to become only the fourth club – along with Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea Republic and China PR’s Guangzhou Evergrande – to win the trophy twice since the AFC Champions League was created in 2002.

Koroki scored three times during the group phase as Urawa emerged from Group G in second place behind Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to secure their spot in the knockout phase for the fifth time in the club’s history.

But it was his brace in the second leg of the Round of 16 win over Ulsan Hyundai in June that was of vital importance to his team as those goals spurred Urawa to a 3-0 win on the night and a 4-2 aggregate victory overall to send the J.League side into the quarter-finals.

The competition resumes in East Asia after a two-and-a-half month hiatus next week, with Guangzhou facing off against defending champions Kashima Antlers in a mouth-watering quarter-final clash that the China PR international is relishing.

Al Ittihad defeated Al Ahed 3-0 at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, setting them up nicely for the kick-off of their 2019-20 Saudi Pro League campaign and 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-finals.

Al Ittihad open their domestic season with a home tie against Al Raed on Friday and then play domestic rivals Al Hilal SFC in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Pereira guided Shanghai to the Chinese title last year as the club claimed their first-ever trophy before the Chinese Super Cup was added to their haul at the start of the current campaign with victory over Beijing Guoan.

But, with their quarter-final against Urawa Red Diamonds in the AFC Champions League looming, the former FC Porto coach is determined to secure another major trophy this season as he aims to create a winning habit at the Shanghai club.