GOALKEEPER Michael Theo and attacking weapon Henrique are in doubt for Brisbane Roar’s crucial AFC Champions League clash against Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan on Wednesday night.

Theo (groin) and Henrique (knee) were due to face a searching fitness test on Tuesday night, making it difficult for Roar coach Frans Thijssen to settle on a starting team for a clash he’s all but treating a must-win encounter.

Both sides lost their first-up Group G matches last Wednesday, with Thijssen still lamenting Roar’s 1-0 home defeat at the hands of a 10-man Beijing Guoan.

“We dropped three points against a team we should have won against … now we can put it right again,” Thijssen said from Japan.

“We have two players (Theo and Henrique) who we have to wait and see if they can make it. But we still have a good group.

“That’s what the team tries to do, and hopefully we can do that (against Urawa).”

Should Theo be ruled out, Jamie Young will replace him, while Dimitri Petratos would most likely be the replacement for Henrique, who started in the Roar’s 2-2 weekend draw with Perth Glory.

Thijssen ruled out shifting Thomas Broich back out to the left wing if Henrique did not play, saying the German playmaker would remain part of a midfield trio that also included Matt McKay and Luke Brattan.

media_camera Michael Theo may make way for Jamie Young on Wednesday night.

“I was very happy with our midfield. That was our strongest part of the team against Perth. In the midfield we won the battle,” he said.

“It would be crazy to change it. If you’re happy with the midfield and happy with Thomas, it can be important again.

“You want your better players in the position where they play their best.”

Broich was confident his side could tonight win in Asian competition for the first time in three Champions League campaigns.

“The amount of times people have written off Brisbane Roar because of a few bad results or poor performances, doesn’t interest me,’’ Broich told the club’s website.

“In the past this team has proven time and again we can turn things around in one game or even when it comes to an entire season.

media_camera Henrique takes on the Beijing Guoan defence on the Gold Coast last month.

“I am really, really confident in the team at this point of time.

“We are not quite flying yet but there are so many promising signs now in terms of possession-based football that we are playing and in terms of the balance we have in the team structure-wise.

“Champions League is a massive opportunity for us to develop as a team. The games are quicker, the opposition are smarter, more gifted technically ... you get better when you play against better teams.”