The final last eight match of the week will see the winners join Al Sadd, Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals and the Brazilian midfielder insists that, rather than the match-up with the likes of Paulinho and Talisca in the Guangzhou midfield, this is his biggest motivation.

Defending champions Kashima and two-time winners Guangzhou will kick off with the tie firmly in the balance following a scoreless draw at Tianhe Stadium three weeks ago which has set up an enticing encounter at Kashima Soccer Stadium.

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.

The J.League side secured a goalless draw in the first leg in Guangzhou just over two weeks ago, while their league form has also taken an upturn, having been beaten just once since May as the Ibaraki side have risen to second behind leaders FC Tokyo.

And, just as in 2018, the defending champions could be hitting form at the right time, with Go Oiwa’s team just three games away from a second successive final as they aim to become the first side to defend the AFC Champions League since Al Ittihad in 2004 and 2005.

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.

The 24-year-old was injured in his club’s Chinese Super League defeat at the hands of Jiangsu Suning on Friday and head coach Fabio Cannavaro remains unsure whether the China international will be available for selection.

The result meant the quarter-final tie ended in a 3-3 aggregate draw and, with Urawa scoring twice in Shanghai in the first leg last month, the 2007 and 2017 champions advanced to the next round, where they will face either Kashima Antlers or Guangzhou Evergrande.

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.