ONE day Western Sydney’s history-making run might come to an end — but not yet.

Fresh from overcoming Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande to book their place in the semi-final of the Asian Champions League the Wanderers will, quite literally, follow in the footsteps of Manchester United.

On Sunday the Wanderers squad jets off to Dubai to train at the exclusive Al Sheba Sports Complex, the private facility of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan, the Crown Prince of Dubai.

Al Sheba has been open for only a year and has been used by English Premier League club Manchester United. At least four of the top teams in the UEFA Champions League will also make use of the facilities later this year, but not before Western Sydney try them out first.

The privilege to do so is by invitation only and the Wanderers are the first Australian team to be invited.

As well as train, the Wanderers will also play two matches in Abu Dhabi.

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The trip was in the works long before Tony Popovic led his team to the last four of the ACL, when an intermediary who manages the complex got in touch with the Wanderers in February, but it comes at the perfect time.

Western Sydney play the first leg of their semi-final against FC Seoul on September 17, before the return leg in Parramatta on October 1.

Should they get through, they will meet one of Al Ain or Al Hilal in the final. Both clubs are based in the Middle East, so an opportunity to train in Dubai will provide the perfect preparation.

Wanderers defender Matthew Spiranovic, who spent a year in Qatar with Al Arabi, knows what conditions the players will be exposed to.

“It will be very warm — I think in the mid 40s,” he said.

“So very hot conditions, but I think it will be ideal preparation. It will be testing and potentially if we make it to the final then we will be playing against a team in the Middle East, so I think it will be ideal preparation if we make it that far.

“More importantly the facilities that we will be exposed to there are fantastic and that will be a great environment for us to work on things.”

Spiranovic suffered an ankle injury during preseason which required surgery, but his recovery is on track and there is a chance he could be fit for the return leg against Seoul.

“Everything has definitely gone to plan from the surgery and now I’m back to running,” he said. “So it’s just about building up and hopefully I will be on the pitch in the near future.”

Spiranovic admits he was frustrated not to be involved in the heated encounters against Evergrande, but he says there is huge excitement among the team about the next stage.

“It was a fantastic achievement and exciting times,” he said.

“There is a real buzz and now we look forward to a trip to Dubai where we can prepare for the semi-finals.”