Sydney FC will face Asia's biggest club Guangzhou Evergrande in a daunting Asian Champions League (ACL) assignment.
Graham Arnold's side were handed the toughest opponent in the draw for the 2016 tournament, held on Thursday night (AEDT) in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
The Chinese Super League club are defending ACL champions, coached by Brazilian World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and with countryman Robinho top of a star-packed playing list.
Flooded with funds earlier this decade, Guangzhou have won the continental competition in 2013 and 2015, either side of Western Sydney's against-the-odds triumph.
Sydney FC will also play an as-yet-unknown Japanese challenger and playoff winner in their group, just as Melbourne Victory will do.
A-League champions Victory also learned just one of their ACL opponents on Thursday night - Korean club Suwon Bluewings.
Like Guangzhou, the K-League club are two-time ACL winners.
Adelaide United also discovered their qualifying fate on Thursday night, hosting a one-off playoff on February 9.
Chinese club Shandong Luneng are the most-likely opponents as the Reds look to reach Group F with Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan), FC Seoul (Korea) and Buriram United (Thailand).
Arnold said he was hopeful of taking the Sky Blues to the round of 16 for the first time in the club's history.
"I had the privilege of coming up against Guangzhou when I was at the Mariners when we made the last 16 when Marcello Lippi was coach," Arnold said.
"I've had experience with Guangzhou and going there. I've got two years' experience in the Asian Champions League so I know what it's about, so I'll use my experiences hopefully to good stead."
The draw also confirms the challenging schedule for the Australian participants, with the final ACL group matches colliding with the business end of the A-League campaign.
Kevin Muscat's side have the greatest challenge, requiring travel to three countries inside three weeks during a challenging April.
Sydney FC's route is marginally easier.
Arnold's side head to Japan and to the home of their playoff winner during the regular season.
If the Sky Blues reach the A-League grand final, they'll enjoy a celebratory or gloomy flight to China to face Guangzhou no less than 72 hours after the domestic decider.
By contrast, Victory could host an AAMI Park after-party shortly after the A-League grand final.
Teams must finish in the top two of their group to qualify for the knockout rounds.
TRICKY TRIPS: THE ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHALLENGES FACING A-LEAGUE CLUBS:
MELBOURNE VICTORY:
* Group G: Melbourne Victory (Australia), TBC (Japan), Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Korea), playoff winner
* Toughest spell: April 2 - Wellington (A), April 5/6 - Suwon (A), April 9 - Brisbane (H), April 15/16/17 - A-League Finals W1, April 19/20 - ACL playoff winner (A), April 22/23/24 - A-League semi-final
SYDNEY FC:
* Group H: Guangzhou Evergrande (China), Sydney FC (Australia), TBC (Japan), playoff winner
* Toughest spell: Feb 20 - Western Sydney (H), Feb 23/24 - Japan ACL club (A), Feb 27 - Victory (A)
ADELAIDE UNITED:
* Playoff for Group F: Against Shandong Luneng (China), Mohun Bagan (India) or Tampines Rovers (Singapore)
* Group F: Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan), FC Seoul (Korea), Buriram United (Thailand), playoff winner
* Toughest spell: April 2 - Sydney (A), April 5/6 - FC Seoul (A), April 10 - Melbourne City (A)
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