Pohang Steelers and Al Ittihad are set to field full-strength sides for Saturday's AFC Champions League final.

As both teams gun for a record third continental crown, the one-leg clash at the National Stadium in Tokyo will feature arguably the two most exciting teams in this year's competition, who are both free of suspension worries going into the final.

Ittihad, champions in 2004 and 2005, made the most of Akira Takeuchi's early red card to thrash Nagoya Grampus 6-2 in Jeddah in their semi-final first leg. The Tigers' other big wins included a 7-0 trouncing of eventual semi-finalists Umm Salal in the group stage and a 4-0 home win over Pakhtakor in the quarters. 

Ittihad coach Gabriel Calderon usually uses a 4-4-2 formation, although the former Argentina international reverted to a 4-5-1 line-up in the semi-final second leg as the Saudi champions looked to protect their first-leg advantage.

Tunisia striker Amine Chermiti, only 21, has scored in his three last AFC Champions League games since arriving on loan from Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin in August. Argentine attacker Luciano Leguizamon has also impressed since being signed on loan, although he has mostly been used as a substitute.

Moroccan attacker Hicham Aboucherouane and Oman midfielder Ahmed Hadid, both internationals, are the side's other two foreigners and have become key players for Ittihad since arriving last year.

Aboucherouane finished as the Saudi league's joint top scorer last season and is the club's top scorer in this year's AFC Champions League with five. However, 'Boucher' has been used as a right winger since the arrival of Chermiti, who has been playing up front, with captain Mohammed Noor pulling the strings behind him.

The 25-year-old Hadid, who helped Oman win their first Gulf Cup earlier this year, usually partners the imposing Saudi Khariri in the centre of midfield, where the 29-year-old enforcer has long done a solid job for club and country.

The left-footed Manaf Aboshgair, another of Ittihad's experienced Saudi internationals, can play on the left wing or as an attacking midfielder.

Veteran Redha Takar and Hamad Al Montashari, the 2005 AFC Player of the Year, are an experienced centre-back pairing who both started all of Saudi Arabia's games in the 2006 World Cup.

Takar, who also played through the 2002 World Cup, turns 34 later this month but is still a giant in defence, while the 27-year-old Al Montashari has pace and an ability to pop up with crucial goals.

Saleh Al Saqri is one of many left-footers in the side and the former international is comfortable at both full-back and on the wing, scoring three times in this year's AFC Champions League.

Rashed Al Rahab was signed from Ettifaq over the summer and has been an unsung hero at right-back, from where he has set up many attacks and goals for his new side.

Obaid Al Shamrani, the former first-choice right-back, can play anywhere on the back line, while the giant Osama Al Harbi, another Saudi international, is another defensive option.

Goalkeeper Mabrouk Zaid is a former Saudi number one, but has shown frailty at times during this year's campaign and will have to have a good game on Saturday when he's expected to come under significant pressure.

Pohang's triple-headed attack

Pohang, who won the former Asian Club Championship in 1997 and 1998, are one of the most attacking sides in this year's competition. Coach Sergio Farias has recently been using a 4-3-3 formation with Macedonia striker Stevica 'Stevo' Ristik flanked by Brazilian Denilson and No Byung-joon in a three-pronged attack.

Standing six-foot two-inches tall, the 27-year-old Ristik is a classic target man who's excellent in the air, holds the ball up well and finishes well, with three goals in his last four AFC Champions League games.

Denilson was Pohang's top scorer in the K-league and is also their top marksman in this year's AFC Champions League with seven goals, and the muscular, skilful forward is a handful for any defence.

No usually plays on the left although he and Denilson often swap flanks during a match. Full of energy and ever smiling, No has netted three times in this year's competition but is as much a supplier as a scorer, and is also one of the team's free-kick experts.

Set-piece specialist Kim Jae-sung is a front-runner for one of the two attacking midfield roles after shining in this year's AFC Champions League campaign during which he has scored four times and made crucial assists.

Kim Tae-su has been a regular in his first season since arriving from Chunnam Dragons this season, while 23-year-old Shin Hyung-min is fast developing as a holding midfielder. The attacking Hwang Jin-sung and former captain Kim Gi-dong, now 37, are among the midfield options.

When Pohang play four at the back, captain Hwang Jae-won partners the formidable Kim Hyung-il in central defence, both players having been capped by Korea Republic in recent times.

Choi Hyo-jin, another on the fringes of the international set-up, is a fast, attacking right-back with an eye for goal, as shown when he scored a hat-trick while playing up front in the 6-0 win over Newcastle Jets in the round of 16.

Kim Jung-kyum has made the left-back position his own, while Shin Hwa-yong is a confident and athletic goalkeeper.

This year, Al Ittihad have won the 2008-09 Saudi Pro League and recorded four straight wins in the defence of their title, while Pohang have won the League Cup and finished second in the K-League table to book a place in the final stages of the play-offs. The National Stadium is getting set to crown a deserving champion.