Patev, who has primarily been used as a right back in the past, will join the Dushanbe-based side on a contract which runs until the end of the 2021 season, filling the vacant foreign player spot made available by the departure of Dutch attacking midfielder Huseyin Dogan, who left the club in June.

Over the past two weeks we have seen the goalkeeper and the defenders in front of him decided, so now it's time to turn our attention to the midfield and find out who you consider the main men in the middle.

So, here are the 10 players in contention for our places in the centre of the park. Review the candidates and then select your favourite for this all-star XI in the poll below.

The outstanding team of the Central Zone’s group stage with nine unanswered goals back in May, Ruzikul Berdiev’s side will enter Wednesday’s sudden-death tie as strong favourites largely due to what is expected to be a greater level of match fitness.

Nasaf have the advantage of having played 15 Uzbekistan Super League games this season, including eight since their previous AFC Cup duties, while Ahal are still waiting for Turkmenistan’s Yokary Liga to begin due to persistent delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bengaluru and Maziya go into the match still seeking their first win with both having already been eliminated from the competition.

Meanwhile, in the day's late game, the already eliminated pair of hosts Maziya Sports & Recreation of the Maldives and India's 2016 runners-up Bengaluru FC will face off in a battle for pride and points, with neither team yet to record a win in the 2021 AFC Cup Group Stage.

It is a must-win match for the Bangladesh champions as they sit second in the standings with four points, two adrift of leaders ATK Mohun Bagan of India with the group winners to book their place in the Inter-Zone Semi-final.

There can only be one winner when the two unbeaten sides cross paths, with the victors to carry the hopes of the entire Central Asian region into the latter stages of the tournament.

Ninety minutes, or perhaps a few more, will decide which club will advance to the Inter-Zone Semi-finals as Central Asia’s last team standing, with the South Zonal champions lying in wait.

Join the-AFC.com as we look at how Nasaf and Ahal made it this far, who stood out during the group stage and what it all means ahead of Wednesday’s blockbuster clash at Karshi’s Markaziy Stadium.