Urawa took a two-goal lead into the half time break with efforts from Tomoaki Makino and Shinzo Koroki, but Hulk’s brace from the spot in the second 45 minutes leaves the Japanese side with a slender advantage due to the away goals rule going into the second game.

The two-time champions can progress with victory or a scoreless draw at Saitama Stadium on September 17, while a 1-1 draw would also ensure Tsuyoshi Otsuki’s side advance to the last four for the fourth time in the club’s history.

Hiroki Abe’s move to FC Barcelona stole the headlines as the young midfielder joined the Spanish giants in July, while the defending Asian champions have also seen full-back Koki Anzai join Portimonense in Portugal and Yuma Suzuki – last year’s AFC Champions League MVP – sign for Belgian club Sint-Truiden.

But Oiwa believes Kashima can compensate for the departure of the trio with their team play as the reigning champions seek to gain an advantage over the Chinese Super League side at Tianhe Stadium in Wednesday’s first leg.

Between them, the sides have won three of the past six editions of the competition with two-time winners Guangzhou lifting the trophy in 2013 and 2015 and the J.League club Kashima being crowned champions in November last year.

The match also marks a repeat of the 2017 Round of 16 match-up which the Chinese side edged on away goals following a narrow 1-0 win at home and a 2-1 loss in Japan.

Being among the Kashima number crowned Asia's kings last year was a highlight in the career of 23-year-old Tokyo-native Misao, but the 2018 AFC Player of the Year nominee is adamant that neither he nor his teammates are content to sit on their laurels.

Their campaign to become the first back-to-back champions since Al Ittihad in 2005 – and, indeed, just the second in the AFC Champions League's history – is set to face a huge test in the last eight against 2013 and 2015 winners Guangzhou.

The Saudi side came from behind to secure their first-ever home win in an AFC Champions League knockout stage match as goals from Abdulrahman Al Dossari and Giuliano settled matters in a closely-contested affair at the King Fahd International Stadium on Monday.

Ali Asad had given the Qataris a 21st minute lead but it was countered by Abdulrahman Al Dossari’s close range strike a minute from the break, before Giuliano sealed the win for Al Nassr with a fine header in the 72nd minute on Tuesday.

Making their first-ever quarter-final appearance, Al Nassr were hopeful of securing their first win over Qatari opponents in the competition, but had their work cut out for them by a late injury to star striker Abdelrazzaq Hamdallah.

In turn, Al Sadd needed a positive result from Riyadh to set them up for an easier task at home as they chase a second consecutive semi-final.