Last week we presented the candidates for the 2017 edition's best goalkeeper, and now it's time to turn our attention to defenders.

So, here are 14 players in contention for the four places in the backline. Review the nominees and then choose your favourite defenders for this all-star XI in the respective polls.

Bibiano Fernandes' charges will have Korea Republic, Australia and Uzbekistan for company with the top two advancing to the knockout stage.

An added incentive for the 16 teams who will be contesting for the Continental crown is that the four semi-finalists will qualify for the FIFA World Cup Peru 2021.

With several players joining the league from East, West and especially Central Asia, the competition has been a league of interest for Asian fans since its inception in 1992.

It has played host to star players from some of the continent’s biggest football nations, with League, Cup and European silverware all won by Asian players.

But who stands out from our list of nominees?

Malaysia were drawn in Group D of the Finals with Qatar, Tajikistan and Yemen and Australian Maloney acknowledged that his team will have to be at their best to advance to the knock-out stage.

Born in Paris to a Thai father and French mother, Tristan Do attended the world-renowned INF Clairefontaine academy in France as a teenager alongside the likes of Real Madrid goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Raphael Guerreiro.

From there he signed his first professional contract with RS Strasbourg before spells with Lorient and Gazelec Ajjacio. But in 2014, an unexpected call from Thailand led to his first trip to Southeast Asia and, six years on, Bangkok has become home.

Speaking exclusively to the-AFC.com, Do reflects on his life-changing decision, becoming a key member of the Thai national side and a renowned figure among adoring fans, as well as a business venture in one of Bangkok's trendiest neighbourhoods.

The tournament hosts will also face the Southeast Asian duo of Indonesia and Cambodia in Group A, with the top two teams advancing to the quarter-finals.

In a draw which produced several mouth-watering fixtures, the Uzbekistan-IR Iran tournament opener at Bunyodkor Stadium stands out as a potential classic, but despite a challenging first step on the road to the knockout stage, Kapadze was relatively pleased with the outcome of Thursday’s ceremony at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

Adding to the excitement and intensity of the competition is the knowledge that the top four sides will qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Indonesia 2021.