Tough taskmaster Caio Canedo has warned Spain legend Xavi’s Al Sadd that Al Wasl will be the ones who “set the rules” when the teams kick-off their 2018 AFC Champions League commitments.

The Cheetahs are roaring back into Asia’s premier club competition for the first time in a decade. Their berth in Group C was earned via an electric run to runners-up in the 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League, fuelled by deadly Brazilian attackers Canedo, Fabio De Lima and Ronaldo Mendes.

Tuesday’s opponents sit second in a tight QNB Stars League. They also boast superior pedigree on the continent, although the 2011 winners’ 11th entrance ends a run of back-to-back play-off defeats – 2016’s coming in Abu Dhabi against Al Jazira.

For Canedo, reputations will count for nothing at Zabeel Stadium.

“We play at home and we are going to fight, equal to equal,” said the 27-year-old, who has 12 goals in 15 top-flight matches this term. “Every time we play at home, we always aim for three points.

“In my house, I set the rules. My team has to start off with three points.

“It’s our house, we have to play to win. That’s it, we set the rules.”

As always, Wasl – who are winless in their last two matches – will look to Rodolfo Arruabarrena for guidance. He scored key goals when Spain’s Villarreal reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2005/06, won the Copa Libertadores at Boca Juniors in 2000 and later guided the Argentines as coach to 2015’s round of 16.

He said: “It is my first time in this competition, although as a player I played in the Champions League in Europe. I always say my experiences as a player, I don’t care.

“The other team has more experience, they usually player year by year. They have important players like Xavi and players who played in the Spanish leagues.

“We hope to do the match we want and things we prepared. It is a very important day for the club, players and the staff, as for several years we haven’t played this competition.”

Elsewhere in the pool, Persian Gulf Pro League holders Persepolis host Uzbekistan Super League runners-up Nasaf.