In a little under five years, Park has risen from Korea Republic’s third tier to join one of the most successful sides in Asia, as well as making his international debut, and the 25-year-old is now gaining from the expertise of one of the finest defenders of a generation. 

Having helped Guangzhou keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 first-leg draw against Kashima three weeks ago, Park will now look to put in another strong showing in Japan as Cannavaro’s team aim to make the semi-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 2015.

The defender is competing in the Continental tournament for the first time after joining the two-time winners from Hebei CFFC in February, and he will look to take his place in the starting line-up in the second leg of the quarter-final against Kashima Antlers on Wednesday. 

With the contest delicately poised after a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Guangzhou, the visitors will know the value of an away goal, but there will be plenty of pressure on Gao and his fellow defenders to keep an in-form Kashima frontline quiet at the other end.

The 24-year-old was injured in his club’s Chinese Super League defeat at the hands of Jiangsu Suning on Friday and head coach Fabio Cannavaro remains unsure whether the China international will be available for selection.

The final last eight match of the week will see the winners join Al Sadd, Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals and the Brazilian midfielder insists that, rather than the match-up with the likes of Paulinho and Talisca in the Guangzhou midfield, this is his biggest motivation.

Defending champions Kashima and two-time winners Guangzhou will kick off with the tie firmly in the balance following a scoreless draw at Tianhe Stadium three weeks ago which has set up an enticing encounter at Kashima Soccer Stadium.

There was nothing between the teams in the first leg in China three weeks ago with defences coming out on top in a scoreless draw that sets up a potentially nervy return meeting in Japan. 

Kashima have won their past six knockout round games in front of home support, while Guangzhou have never been eliminated by Japanese opposition and overcame Wednesday’s hosts in the 2017 Round of 16.

After securing a scoreless draw in the first leg at Tianhe Stadium in late August, the hosts go into the game on a fine run of form as a 2-0 victory over J.League leaders FC Tokyo at the weekend saw Kashima close the gap to just one point at the top of the table.

But while their season continues to go from strength to strength as they chase silverware on four fronts, the lack of an away goal in China could yet leave them in a perilous position and a Guangzhou goal could change the whole trajectory of the tie.

The result meant the quarter-final tie ended in a 3-3 aggregate draw and, with Urawa scoring twice in Shanghai in the first leg last month, the 2007 and 2017 champions advanced to the next round, where they will face either Kashima Antlers or Guangzhou Evergrande.