The Hong Kong champions, who have appeared in the AFC Cup's knockout stage in each of their last five appearances, are already in danger of crashing out at the Group Stage as they enter the midway point of the first round.

Consecutive defeats to domestic rivals Woo Foo Tai Po and DPR Korea's 4.25 SC sees coach Alex Chu's men six points behind the pair and without a point to show for their efforts.

It's a run of results that has to change, starting from the front, says their skipper.

Since the departure of coach Saswadimata Dasuki from the Home United helm earlier this month, his temporary replacement Noh has endured a mixed run of results.

A fine 3-0 home win over Geylang International last Wednesday was the perfect introduction to the hotseat for the former assistant coach, but Saturday's 4-0 loss at Albirex Niigata Singapore would have returned the 38-year-old Noh to reality with a bump.

"It was obviously not a good result for our boys," the former Singapore full-back admitted to The Straits Times.

The six matches will take place across just three countries, with Tajikistan, India and Hong Kong each hosting a pair of games over the coming days.

Hanoi FC's previous AFC Cup 2019 meeting with Naga World was a tie the Cambodian side will want to quickly forget: A heavy 10-0 defeat on Matchday One that was among the tournament's largest-ever margins of victory.

However, the return game at Phnom Penh Olympic Centre Stadium could be a tighter affair with Hanoi FC coach Chu Dinh Nghiem announcing he will be without the services of four Vietnam internationals.

Forward pair Nguyen Van Quyet and Nguyen Van Dai, midfielder Do Hung Dung and goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung are all ruled out.

Ahead of the Matchday Five fixtures, 10 of the sides remain in the hunt for top-two finishes and the chance of reaching the competition’s knockout stages.

The DPR Korea club went as far as the penultimate stage of the tournament last year, and following their 3-0 win away at Chinese Taipei’s Hang Yuan on Matchday One, they recorded a second successive victory against the visiting Hong Kong Premier League champions.

The visitors made a decent early opening when Igor Sartori’s low cross from the left found Sandro, but the striker couldn’t keep his shot down.

Hirokane Harima then had a good chance for the home side after a through pass from Jordi Tarres. But the striker’s tame effort lacked conviction and it was comfortably saved by Tai Po goalkeeper Tsang Man Fai.