To achieve that, Persepolis will have to overcome a first leg deficit - which they did in the Round of 16 and quarter-finals - a feat which Ivankovic has no doubt will be achieved at Tehran's Azadi Stadium in the second leg of the final on Saturday.

Persepolis trail Kashima Antlers 2-0, after having dominated the opening stages of the first leg last week, but Ivankovic didn't see this as a hurdle.

In terms of scoreline, the advantage looks to be with the Japanese visitors, after Kashima recorded a 2-0 win in the first leg thanks to goals from Brazilian duo Leo Silva and Serginho.

However, with a capacity crowd expected at one of Asia's largest venues for the return meeting, Persepolis' vocal and passionate 12th man could well make up for the deficit.

Whatever happens, an enthralling climax to Asia's most prestigious club competition awaits.

With tickets for the 78,116 capacity Azadi stadium nearly sold out, the 2018 finale is poised to eclipse the highest single match attendance set during the 2014 finals, when 63,763 attended the deciding leg between Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Western Sydney Wanderers from Australia at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

The sensational response in Iran also paves the way for a second consecutive year of record attendances after the 2017 final between Urawa Red Diamonds and Al Hilal set the tournament’s highest-ever attendance over two legs.

This, said head coach Go Oiwa, is important if Kashima are to become the first team to defeat Persepolis at the Azadi Stadium in the AFC Champions League this season and lift the title for the first time.

"We won the first leg but we have come here knowing fully well that the second game is going to be very tough," said Oiwa at the pre-match media conference at the Azadi Stadium on Friday.

"Persepolis are very strong when playing at home and I have told my players we must go into the match with the mindset that the score is 0-0 and we have a job to do."

The Islamic Republic of Iran giants are 2-0 down after the first leg and targeting a third comeback in this year’s knockout stage, after they overturned deficits against Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar’s Al-Duhail earlier in the competition.

Both those recoveries took place in front of packed houses at the Azadi Stadium, and Hoseini is calling on one last push from the faithful at one of Asia’s most famous arenas this weekend.

Despite going into the second leg of the final against Persepolis two goals up, following a 2-0 win in Kashima last weekend, experienced full-back Yamamoto is well-aware that the tie is by no means over

With a potentially record-breaking crowd expected for an AFC Champions League finale, the first goal could be absolutely vital. Should the Japanese visitors score it, their hosts would effectively need to net four times to overcome the away goal advantage.

But if it were the Iranian side that draw first blood, the cauldron of noise at the intimidating Azadi Stadium could swell to a game-changing crescendo.

Ghotbi also spent three-and-a-half years coaching in Japan with Shimizu S-Pulse, leaving him uniquely placed to run the rule over the sides battling to be crowned kings of the Continent.

The 54-year-old has enjoyed a long and distinguished career around Asia and beyond, but his triumph of steering Persepolis to the league title at the Azadi in 2008 is a moment that remains etched on his memory.