A little bit of history will be created in about five hours when Campbelltown Sports Stadium hosts arguably its biggest ever football game of any code.
The Western Sydney Wanderers will take on glamour Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds in the opening match of the group stage of the 2017 Asian Champions League (ACL).
The match, which will kick off at 7pm, is one of three ACL matches that will be played at Campbelltown by the Wanderers.
On Tuesday, April 11 the red and black will host Korean giants FC Seoul. Kick off will be 6pm for that match.
The third home match for the Wanderers will see them up against another big name.
On Wednesday, May 10, Shanghai SIPG will be running out on to the Campbelltown Stadium pitch for a 6pm kick off.
But the second and third match can wait as the Wanderers are keen to start their 2017 campaign with three points.
They will need to win all three home games and maybe snag a draw in their three away fixtures to move to the round of 16 in the ACL.
Coach Tony Popovic is not looking too far ahead.
Speaking yesterday, Popovic said the key for his side was to play “without nerves’’ tonight.
“And we don’t want to hold back,’’ he added.
Popovic said that he expected the Japanese team to show respect to the Wanderers, who won the ACL title in 2014 in their first attempt at it.
The Wanderers coach said there were no injury concerns from Saturday night’s match against Sydney FC.
But he signalled there could be some changes from the team that beat Sydney 1-0.
“We have a big squad and some players who haven’t played for a while so we might give them the chance to play,’’ he said.
Popovic said that with many new faces in the ranks of the Wanderers, the ACL would be a new experience for most of his players.
“I will be impressing on the boys how important this competition is,’’ he said.
Urawa warmed up for tonight with a 3-2 loss to the Antlers in the Japanese Super Cup in Yokohama last Saturday.
Former Wanderers and Urawa player, Matthew Spiranovic, said the Japanese team enjoyed an attacking bent.
“They are a team that in most games enjoy the lion’s share of possession and will be aiming to dictate terms against the Wanderers,’’ Spiranovic said.
“Last year they often pushed five players into attack and with the way they held possession and pressed all over the park, they could be fantastic watch.’’
It will be great if the Wanderers can go on and win this historic clash, but from a Campbelltown and south west Sydney point of view let’s hope tonight attracts a big crowd that celebrates football for all the right reasons.
Hope there is a good crowd