Four games will take place in the East and a further four in the West, with former Asian champions Kashima Antlers, Al Ain and Esteghlal among those competing to secure a place in the 18th edition of the competition.

Since 2009, Asia's football fans have enjoyed the exciting addition of the qualifying stage to the AFC Champions League experience. Over a decade ago that entire process involved just five teams, a number that has risen to today's total of 28 sides.

There have been some classic encounters over the years involving late winners, penalty shootouts and upset victories. And, in one notable case, the winners of the entire tournament progressing all the way from the play-offs.

The 31-year-old midfielder spoke to the-AFC.com in an exclusive interview following Kedah's 5-1 win over Hong Kong's Wofoo Tai Po in the Preliminary Round 2 and the one-club man reflected on that match, the impressive form of new signing Kipre Tchetche and looked ahead to the crunch games against FC Seoul.

Regragui, who joins Al Duhail from Moroccan outfit FUS Rabat, replaces Rui Faria with the Portuguese having left three days ago due to personal reasons.

Towering Malian forward Cheick Diabaté scored a brace before Vorya Ghafouri added a superb third goal just before the hour mark to help Farhad Maijidi’s side cruise to a comprehensive win over the Kuwaiti Premier League champions.

Estgehlal will now face Qatari outfit Al Rayyan for a place in the group stage alongside Iraq’s Al Shorta, Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates and another qualifier.

Mohammad Reza Khalatbari’s opener for the Iranians was cancelled out by a Saleh Taher equaliser for Riffa in the first half. Shahr Khodro had to wait until late into the second period for Amin Ghaseminejad to strike the winner.

The victory books a date with Qatar’s Al Sailiya, with an AFC Champions League group stage debut on the cards for Shahr Khodro should they manage a win on Tuesday.

Burriam broke the deadlock in the second half through goals from Bernardo Cuesta and Ricardo Bueno, while Hochiminh scored a late consolation through Pape Diakite.

The Thailand side will now face Shanghai SIPG of China PR in next week's Playoff with the winners to advance to Group H alongside Australia's Sydney FC, Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan and Korea Republic side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.