There was nothing between the teams in the first leg in China three weeks ago with defences coming out on top in a scoreless draw that sets up a potentially nervy return meeting in Japan. 

Kashima have won their past six knockout round games in front of home support, while Guangzhou have never been eliminated by Japanese opposition and overcame Wednesday’s hosts in the 2017 Round of 16.

After securing a scoreless draw in the first leg at Tianhe Stadium in late August, the hosts go into the game on a fine run of form as a 2-0 victory over J.League leaders FC Tokyo at the weekend saw Kashima close the gap to just one point at the top of the table.

But while their season continues to go from strength to strength as they chase silverware on four fronts, the lack of an away goal in China could yet leave them in a perilous position and a Guangzhou goal could change the whole trajectory of the tie.

The defender is competing in the Continental tournament for the first time after joining the two-time winners from Hebei CFFC in February, and he will look to take his place in the starting line-up in the second leg of the quarter-final against Kashima Antlers on Wednesday. 

With the contest delicately poised after a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Guangzhou, the visitors will know the value of an away goal, but there will be plenty of pressure on Gao and his fellow defenders to keep an in-form Kashima frontline quiet at the other end.

Having won each of their four home games in the competition so far, Xavi’s Al Sadd needed to extend the run if they were to secure a last-four place, having lost 2-1 in Riyadh.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Riyadh last month, Xavi said Al Sadd produced the great performance required as the Doha-based club defeated Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr 3-1 at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium to advance to their second successive AFC Champions League semi-finals.

Al Nassr had gone into the return leg of the quarter-final against Al Sadd leading 2-1 from the first leg but fell 3-1 at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha as Qatar champions Al Sadd advanced 4-3 on aggregate.

Going into the matches, only Al Nassr start with a lead while the other three fixtures will kick off all square. Ahead of what promises to be an intriguing few days packed with drama and tension, the-AFC.com has picked five things to look out for.