The Japanese side were crowned continental champions for the first time when they defeated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis 2-0 on aggregate last November, but only advanced to the 2019 edition after seeing off Australia’s Newcastle Jets in the play-off round.

Kashima have picked up just one point from their first two games in this season’s J.League, but go into the match with Johor on the back of a 1-1 draw against defending champions Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.

A host of big names will make their AFC Champions League bows, while no fewer than eight former winners will be on show. Ahead of the first round of fixtures, the-AFC.com picks out five things to look out for.

The thrilling Group B action will continue just hours later when two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia take on Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC, who will be looking to reach the knockout rounds for the first time.

Meanwhile in Group A, all eyes will be on Al Zawraa Club, who will be the first Iraqi side to feature in the competition’s group stage since 2008 when they travel to IR Iran to face Zobahan FC at the Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan at 7:00pm (local time). Dubai-based Al Wasl FC and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr complete the Group A action as both sides prepare to battle in the UAE at 7:20pm (local time).

Holders Kashima Antlers will be among the main draws, while Groups E to H feature a total of five former champions and three debutants in what promises to be an exciting round of fixtures.

Striker Sebastian Tagliabue is eyeing a deep run in the 2019 AFC Champions League for his team Al Wahda, ahead of their opening Group B clash against PFC Lokomotiv of Uzbekistan.

The Abu Dhabi-based club have failed to make the knock-out stages in each of their six previous attempts, which included five group stage exits and one elimination at the play-offs in 2015. Their last appearance in the latter stages of the competition saw them reach the semi-finals in 2007.

After exiting in the qualifying rounds in each of the past four years, Johor have finally realised their ambition of joining the Continent’s elite in Asia’s premier club competition, with the 2018 Malaysia Super League champions gaining automatic entry into the 2019 group stage.

And they could have been given no tougher introduction than at the home of the defending champions Kashima, who eased past Australia’s Newcastle Jets 4-1 in the play-off round to qualify for the group stage.

Losing a star player is never easy on a side, but it's not unreasonable to say that with Wu Lei's transfer from Shanghai SIPG to Spain's RCD Espanyol the CSL side have lost a player who is very much part of the heart and soul of the side, having made his debut for the club at just 14 years old.

As the all-time leading goalscorer and appearance-maker for the club, the 27-year-old forward's exit is, undeniably, a blow for the team, but Shanghai SIPG goalkeeper Yan Junling is insistent that the side need to - and are able to - maintain the kind of form that saw them crowned China PR's league champions last year.