Persepolis are the first team from the Islamic Republic of Iran to reach the final since Zobahan in 2010, while the only other Iranian side to progress to this stage were Sepahan in 2007. No club from the country has ever won the title.

But the Tehran team have produced some remarkable results in the current campaign, ousting the United Arab Emirates’ Al Jazira and Qatar pair Al Duhail and Al Sadd in the knockout rounds, all three match-ups being gripping encounters as Branko Ivankovic’s team advanced to a first AFC Champions League final.

With the second leg to be played in Tehran's Azadi Stadium - where Persepolis have been unbeatable in the AFC Champions League this season - the Islamic Republic of Iran giants may be forgiven if they opt for a safe approach on Saturday but head coach Branko Ivankovic said it would be business as usual.

The Iranian team have produced a trio of memorable wins in the knockout rounds, culminating in edging past Qatar’s Al Sadd in the semi-finals less than two weeks ago to raise hopes of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s first AFC Champions League title.

But they now face arguably their biggest test yet following the long trip to Japan against a Kashima side who were unbeaten in the quarter- and semi-finals and have scored 11 goals in their past five games on the continent.

“Our objective is to reach the final and we promise our fans that we will,” said Persepolis' central defender Hosseini after scoring late in the second half to propel his side past Al Jazira and into the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals on away goals.

Six months on, Hosseini’s words echo fresh as Persepolis find themselves exactly where their skipper had promised – 180 minutes away from delivering the Islamic Republic of Iran’s first AFC Champions League title.

Aware that Persepolis are an awesome force when playing at Tehran's Azadi Stadium, Oiwa said Kashima's target in the first leg at the Kashima Soccer Stadium is to win by several goals and not concede any.

Beiranvand showed that in the second leg of the semi-final against Qatar's Al Sadd.

The score was 1-1 with just four minutes to go, a goal for Al Sadd would have effectively taken them to the AFC Champions League final at the expense of Persepolis. The ball was crossed for Spanish legend Xavi, who was left with a free header from just seven yards.

Nine times out of then, this play would have resulted a goal, but as the 81,000 fans present at Azadi Stadiums fell to complete silence, the Persepolis goalkeeper had different ideas. Beiranvand produced an impossible reflex save to tip Xavi’s header behind and rescue his team.

Ahead of the first of two meetings between the best clubs in the East and West of the continent, the-AFC.com kicks off our build-up to the final with a look at some of the key Persepolis players, who could be the ones to watch at Kashima Soccer Stadium on November 3.