Thai champions Buriram United are back at full strength, and the timing could not have been more critical.
Holders Buriram will have their prolific Brazilian spearhead Guilherme Bissoli back for Wednesday's decisive second leg of the Asean Club Championship Shopee Cup final against Selangor of Malaysia at Buriram Stadium.
The Thai League 1 winners carry a slender advantage into the tie after Suphanat Mueanta's towering header secured a 1-0 victory in last week's opening leg at MBPJ Stadium.
However, it is the return of Bissoli, suspended for the first leg after a red card in the semi-final against Johor Darul Ta'zim, that has electrified the home camp.
The 28-year-old has been the competition's most lethal marksman, plundering six goals in eight appearances as Buriram amassed 19 strikes in total -- more than any other side in the tournament.
His return offers head coach Mark Jackson precisely the cutting edge required to finish the job.
"It's a huge boost," Jackson admitted. "He's hungry, he's fresh, and he knows what this occasion means. We'll be stronger with him back."
The Englishman, who guided Buriram to last year's crown, is wary of complacency.
"This tie is far from settled. Selangor will come at us differently. We've managed the recovery well, and the boys are mentally prepared. But we expect a battle."
Selangor's manager Kim Pan-Gon has promised exactly that.
The Malaysian side must overturn the deficit without two of their Jordanian internationals, Noor Al-Rawabdeh and Mohammad Abualnadi, both summoned for World Cup duty. Their absence strips Kim of vital midfield steel, but he remains defiant.
"We still have 90 minutes," he said. "Anything can happen. We'll correct our mistakes, we'll attack, and we'll go for it. Confidence is growing in the squad, and we will be strong."
Kim's rallying cry is designed to strengthen belief in a side that has shown flashes of attacking verve but lacked ruthlessness in the first leg. The challenge now is to find goals in Buriram's fortress, where the hosts have rarely been breached.
The stakes are high with the Shopee Cup champions pocketing US$425,000 (approximately 13.65 million baht) and the runners-up settling for US$215,000 (6.9 million baht).
For Buriram, it is the chance to cement their status as the region's dominant force; for Selangor, the opportunity to upset the hierarchy and claim a first continental crown.
Kick-off is at 7pm local time, with live coverage on Thai Rath TV (Channel 32) and BG Sports' YouTube channel.
