While Iran are hopeful of ending a long-standing Olympic qualification drought, Uzbekistan are defending the title they won in China two years ago, with six players from the successful 2018 squad selected again this time around.

With Korea Republic and China PR also looming in one of the tournament’s most imposing groups, the Hamid Estili-led side has little margin for error, but Ghayedi is confident Team Melli Omid will produce from day one.

With just four days remaining until the tournament begins, join the-AFC.com for a look at the key names from Uzbekistan, Korea Republic, China PR and Islamic Republic of Iran.

The top two sides in Group C will advance to the quarter-finals, while the tournament’s top three finishers will qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Despite a record at senior level that marks them out amongst the leaders of the continental game, the Iranians travel to Thailand with their eyes fixed on securing one of the three tickets for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Central Asian nation has not qualified for the Olympiad since featuring in Munich in 1972 and Estili concedes that fact brings with it added scrutiny on him and his players.

Songkhla is set to feature a feast of football with five of Group C's six fixtures taking place in southern Thailand. Taking to the field at Tinsulanon Stadium will be defending champions Uzbekistan, perennial contenders Korea Republic, China PR and Islamic Republic of Iran.

We have picked out four players capable of shining in Songkhla.

The midfielder skippered the Central Asians as they advanced from a qualifying group that featured Iraq, Turkmenistan and Yemen after finishing as one of the best-placed runners up in March to book their ticket to the Continental competition, which also acts as the Olympic Games qualifiers.

Four years ago in Qatar, when Olympic qualification was also on the line, Iran progressed to the quarter-finals before defeat at the hands of Japan. After missing out on the U-23 showpiece in 2018, they return looking to go at least one better this time round a give themselves a chance of appearing at Tokyo 2020.

While each match-up between some of the best young talents in Asia is set to be well worth watching, we have highlighted five ties among the 24 group stage fixtures that are of particular interest.

Despite having already begun his professional career as a 19-year-old in 2016, last year's campaign proved to be a banner year for Kim who shot to prominence on the Continental club stage as part of an exciting Daegu FC side who made headlines in their AFC Champions League debut.