Safiq Rahim
Former Malaysia international Safiq Rahim will be crucial to Johor's chances Reuters

Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) host Boeung Ket Angkor in the opening match of AFC Cup 2017 Group F, which also has Philippines' Global FC and Myanmar Magwe FC, at the Larkin Stadium in Johor on Tuesday.

While the defending Malaysian Super League champions start as favourites, their recent struggles in the league following the departure of their two key Argentinian strikers Juan Lucero and Pereyra Diaz, who scored 43 goals in all competitions between them last season, has given the Cambodian champions a window to clinch a win on the road.

Match: Johor Darul Ta'zim v Boeung Ket Angkor

Date: 21 February, Tuesday

Time: 8:45pm SGT/6:15pm IST/12:45pm GMT

Competition: AFC Cup 2017, Group Stage

Venue: Larkin Stadium, Johor

TV Channel: In Singapore, Fox Sports will provide live TV coverage.

Live streaming will be available on AFC's Youtube Channel, Fox Sports Live TV.

JDT missed out on an opportunity to reach the group stages of AFC Champions League for the first time despite winning their preliminary stage match win against Thailand's Bangkok United as they slipped in the next round against Japan's Gamba Osaka 3-0. The 2014 champions also have got only one win from their four games in the new league season and are ranked eighth in the 12-team table.

They are heading into Tuesday's game on the back of a 2-1 defeat to local side Perak. However, newly-appointed coach Benjamin Mora is reportedly not concerned with the lack of positve results and believes that the revamped unit will only get better with time.

On the other hand, Boeung Ket became the first side from Cambodia to qualify for the tournament after defeating Lao Toyota 2-1 on aggregate in the play-offs. Ahead of their title defence, which begins on Sunday against Svay Rieng, John McGlynn's side will face one of its biggest tests in Johor.

The Cambodia League champions also have to cope up without last season's top-scorer Chan Vathanaka, who has moved to Japan on loan, Yuya Wada and Samuel Gbenga Ajayi. The revamped side now has Brazilian striker Rogerio Calijuri leading the line and also the team should take confidence from their 3-0 win in their Charity Cup final against National Defense.

TV Schedule

Cambodia: Fox Sports

Malaysia: Fox Sports

Singapre: Fox Sports

Thailand: Fox Sports

Philippines: Fox Sports

Indonesia: Fox Sports

Team News

JDT

Possible XI: Possible XI: Tarmizi; Antonio, Mahalli, Fazly, Amirulhadi; Safiq, Kunalan, Shakir, Afiq; Cabrera, Guerra

Boeung Ket

Possible XI: Makara; Sovan, Vibol, Samoeun, Ly, Pencharong; Mizan, Mizuno, Maycon, Laboravy, Muramatsu