Melbourne Victory is set for its AFC Champions League 2008 match against Chonburi FC at Supachalasai Stadium on Wednesday (kick off 11:30pm AEST), with Coach Ernie Merrick declaring the side is primed for its first away match in Asia’s premier club competition.

Victory has adapted well to its new surroundings since arriving in Bangkok on Sunday and looks set to take on Chonburi with the same starting 11 that defeated Korean FA Cup winners the Chunnam Dragons at Telstra Dome last week.

Chonburi, which produced a surprising 1-1 draw against Japan’s Gamba Osaka last week, remains undefeated after four Thailand Premier League matches this season, and will be looking to overcome Victory in front of its home fans.

A large contingent of local media packed the official AFC Champions League press conference this afternoon, with Merrick saying Victory is hopeful of extending its lead on top of Group G.

“The opportunity for Australian A-League teams to play in the AFC Champions League is wonderful for us and we appreciate being here, but unfortunately only one team is going to go through to the Knockout Stage,” Merrick said.

“We’re a bit worried about Chonburi because they did so well against Gamba Osaka, so we know we’re going to have a very tough game tomorrow.

“We’ve done our homework and we’re aware of the expected 35 degrees and 85 per cent humidity.

“We’ve been running an acclimatisation program at the Victorian Institute of Sport, so we’ve prepared for the heat quite well, however, Melbourne is actually hotter than Bangkok right now, but there’s no humidity.”

The match will be broadcast live and exclusively on Fox Sports 1 from 11:30pm.

Chonburi FC (THA) v Melbourne Victory (AUS)
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Kick off 7:30pm local (11:30pm AEDT)
Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok

Chonburi FC: 1.NAKNAYOM Sujin (gk), 3.Natthaphong SAMANA, 4.Suttinun PHUKHOM, 5.Phanuwat JINTA, 6.Nataporn PHANRIT, 7.Arthit SUNTORNPHIT, 8.Sarawut JANTHAPAN, 9.MAKKLANG Watcharaphong, 10.Pipob ON-MO (Captain), 11.Baga JULES YVES STEPHANE, 12.Ney Fabiano DE OLIVEIRA, 13.Phaisan PONA, 14.LAHSO Adul, 15.Kone HAMED, 16.ANUWAN Nikorn, 17.Kriangkrai PIMRAT, 18.Kosin HATHAIRATTANAKOOL (gk), 20.PIMPAK Udorn, 22.PASSAJANTR Somkiat (gk), 23.Teerasak PO-ON, 24.Ekaphan INTHASEN, 25.JANTAKAM Chonlatit, 27.Surat SUKHA, 28.MUTAPORN Ampai, 29.Jetsadakorn HEMDAENG

Melbourne Victory: 1.Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2.Kevin MUSCAT (Captain), 3.Daniel PIORKOWSKI, 6.Steve PANTELDIS, 7.Matthew KEMP, 9.Daniel ALLSOPP, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, 13.Kaz PATAFTA, 14.Adrian CACERES, 15.Leandro LOVE, 17.Daniel VASILEVSKI, 18.Leigh BROXHAM, 19.Evan BERGER, 20.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 21.Sebastian RYALL, 22.Nick WARD, 24.Billy CELESKI