After exiting in the qualifying rounds in each of the past four years, Johor have finally realised their ambition of joining the Continent’s elite in Asia’s premier club competition, with the 2018 Malaysia Super League champions gaining automatic entry into the 2019 group stage.

And they could have been given no tougher introduction than at the home of the defending champions Kashima, who eased past Australia’s Newcastle Jets 4-1 in the play-off round to qualify for the group stage.

The thrilling Group B action will continue just hours later when two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia take on Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC, who will be looking to reach the knockout rounds for the first time.

Meanwhile in Group A, all eyes will be on Al Zawraa Club, who will be the first Iraqi side to feature in the competition’s group stage since 2008 when they travel to IR Iran to face Zobahan FC at the Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan at 7:00pm (local time). Dubai-based Al Wasl FC and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr complete the Group A action as both sides prepare to battle in the UAE at 7:20pm (local time).

Holders Kashima Antlers will be among the main draws, while Groups E to H feature a total of five former champions and three debutants in what promises to be an exciting round of fixtures.

Iraqi teams return to the AFC Champions League for the first time in over a decade as Al Zawraa line-up in Group A, while all three past winners from West Asia - Al Ain, Al Ittihad and Al Sadd - are present in the group stage.

In the above slideshow, you will find all 29 designated home grounds for use in this year's edition of the tournament, ranked in order from largest to smallest capacity.

From Omar Abdulrahman to Wu Lei to Omar Khribin, some of the biggest stars in Asian football have announced themselves through the AFC Champions League over the years.

The Continent's prime club competition returns with the group stage of the 2019 edition starting next week. The-AFC.com looks at 10 players the age of 22 and under who could be the next big hit in this year's campaign.

From the likes of household names in Keisuke Honda of Melbourne Victory and Bafetimbi Gomis at Al Hilal to prolific scorers like Al Ahli's Djaniny and Buriram United's Diogo, there will be plenty of new stars set to shine on Asian club football's grandest stage in this year's continental competition.

While the above have already spent several months at their new clubs, or previously appeared in the AFC Champions League, we look at some of the most recent signings and reveal what they could bring to their teams at the 2019 edition.