Yokohama F-Marinos of Japan host Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates on Saturday from 12 noon Central European Time in a match that will be played as the first leg of the AFC Champions League final.

As well as determining the best team on the world's most populous continent, the match will also feature coaches who have been involved in the European Champions League, the world's most prestigious club competition.

Harry Kewell and Hernán Crespo, who faced each other as outfield players in a UEFA Champions League final, will meet again in the Asian equivalent on Saturday, but this time they will be orchestrating their teams' strategies and tactics.

Australian great Kewell is now in charge of Yokohama F-Marinos in Japan, who host Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates, led by former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo, in the first leg of the AFC Champions League final.

Kewell was part of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League winning team in Istanbul in 2005, when the Anfield club trailed AC Milan 3-0 at half-time, with Crespo scoring two of the goals, before famously coming from behind to draw 3-3 and win on penalties

The following year, Hernán Crespo moved to Chelsea from River Plate in Argentina, where he helped the Portuguese coach José Mourinho's side to the 2005-6 Premier League title, while Kewell's Liverpool finished third.

Al Ain are the most successful club in the United Arab Emirates and will be playing in the final for the fourth time, having won it in 2002 and reached the final in 2005 and 2016.

Yokohama are bidding to become the fourth Japanese side to lift the trophy after three-time winners Urawa Red Diamonds, Gamba Osaka and Kashima Antlers.

Kewell, who also played in the 2007 Champions League final and an FA Cup final for Liverpool, said the two-legged final was something new and different for him. "Finals are usually a one-off game and that's why I've always said that two-legged semi-finals are always the toughest games," said the Smithfield-born Australian.

"When you get to a final, you should enjoy it. But this (two-legged final) is also something new for me. You're not out from the first game. You've always got a second chance. Whatever happens on 11 May won't decide everything," concluded the striker, who has scored 17 goals in 56 appearances for his country

On the other hand, Crespo has led Al Ain to the final against all odds, eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi side Al Nassr on penalties in the quarter-finals before ending Al Hilal's record run of 34 consecutive wins in the semi-finals.

Emirati goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, who lost out to South Korea's Jeonbuk in the 2016 final with Al Ain, will have a chance for revenge this Saturday and in the return leg in the UAE on 25 May: "I'm happy to be playing well again, especially now that we're at an important stage of the season, and I appreciate the confidence the coach and club management have in me."