Jiangsu Sainty host Buriram United with head coach Dragan Okuka wary of the Thai side after witnessing their performance against Guangzhou Evergrande in last year's AFC Champions League.

Buriram handed the Chinese Super League champions a 2-1 defeat at Tianhe Stadium on Matchday 2 of the 2012 competition before slipping back and missing out on a place in the knockout phase of the competition.

"We have a strong opponent this time,"said Okuka. "Last year they beat Guangzhou Evergrande and nearly qualified. This year they drew the first two games. They play football in an aggressive way, but we are confident too.

"We hope to repeat the performance against Sendai and have a good result."

Okuka hopes to welcome China international Liu Jianye back from injury while the Buriram side his team faces is very different to the one that shocked Guangzhou last year having lost the services of Frank Acheampong and Franck Ohandza.

"Jiangsu is a strong team, and we will try our best in tomorrow's match,"said head coach Attaphol Buspakom.

"Our team changed a lot during the past year, especially our foreign players. Now we are a completely different team compared with the one that played against Guangzhou Evergrande last year.

"But we are fully aware of Jiangsu's strengths and are prepared to give our best."