Kang Sang-woo

Despite being the vice-captain of the team, Kang Sang-woo has worn the skipper’s armband for the majority of the season due to club captain Oh Beom-seok’s limited appearances.

The 28-year-old caught the eye by creating more goals (12) than any other player in K League 1 last season, in addition to being named in the K League Best XI. The current campaign has seen him carry on from where he left off.

Generally, a left-back, who can also operate in more advanced positions, Kang’s versatility has been key to Pohang’s run to the final. He has netted two goals and, crucially, it was he who held his nerve to dispatch the fifth and final penalty in the semi-final to eliminate holders Ulsan and seal a place in the main event. 

Kang’s ability to play in wide positions has benefitted Pohang domestically as well. He has scored four goals in the K League this season, with two in his last two matches ensuring he goes into the finale in red-hot form. 

This year he has also made his senior national team debut in an AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar fixture against Sri Lanka and has been named in several other squads. With head coach Paulo Bento recognising his qualities, the defender will have one eye on next year's FIFA World Cup. 

Kang’s dynamism coupled with his willingness to adapt to the system will be vital to Pohang’s chances in the final, and he will be hoping to make it the best season of his career by lifting the coveted trophy come Tuesday.

Sin Jin-ho

At the heart of Pohang’s midfield will be a man who has seen and done it all before. Sin Jin-ho captained Ulsan to AFC Champions League glory last year and is hoping to emulate the feat with their East Coast Derby rivals.

Sin is one of the senior members of the team, with the club boasting a whole host of youngsters and, having missed the semi-final victory over his former employers, he will be back in action for the Steelers against Al Hilal. 

The 33-year-old is an instrumental part of head coach Kim Gi-dong’s plans, with the midfielder having created more chances (20) than any other Pohang player. 

He has underlined his importance in the team, most notably when he supplied two crucial assists in the resounding 3-0 quarter-final win over a Nagoya Grampus side that had previously got the better of them in the group stage. 

Similar to Kang, Sin is also more than happy to adapt to Kim’s plans. In recent K League 1 matches, Sin played in an attacking role just behind the striker as his head coach sought to utilise his eye-of-the-needle passes to full effect. 

Back in the side after suspension, Sin - who began his career at Pohang - is looking to create his own piece of history by following up the 2020 AFC Champions League success in Doha with the 2021 title in Riyadh. 

Lim Sang-hyub

After seeing a number departures from the attack line over the past 12 months, including Stanislav Iljutcenko, Aleksandar Palocevic and Song Min-kyu – the three top scorers from last season – Pohang have been shorn of goalscoring prowess. 

But veteran forward Lim Sang-hyub has stepped up and turned out to be a saviour multiple times. Under head coach Kim, the 33-year-old has been a transformed player and is Pohang’s top scorer, with four goals, in the continental competition. 

With the aforementioned trio departing for pastures new, Lim was brought in from Suwon Samsung Bluewings as an attacking reinforcement and he has delivered the goods in his first season with the club.

The only player to get into double digits for goals domestically this season, the Seoul native has struck 10 times in K League 1, while his impressive displays have also been there for everyone to see in the AFC Champions League.

A fabulous opening-day goal against Ratchaburi FC was followed by another in the group stage against Johor Darul Ta’zim, before a brace in the quarter-final against Nagoya, including a picture-perfect curler, capped his finest display to date.

With Pohang set to miss the services of Lee Seung-mo in attack, Lim will go into the grand finale as his side’s main goal threat in what is set to be the biggest match in his career.