The Mariners are chasing a fifth appearance in the group stage of the ACL with victory in the one-off clash against the Chinese Super League club at Central Coast Stadium.

Should Phill Moss's team progress to the tournament proper, it will meet Japanese giant and 2008 ACL champion Gamba Osaka, Seongnam FC of Korea Republic and Thailand's Buriram United FC in Group F.

Guangzhou finished third in its domestic campaign under the guidance of former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, but he was replaced at by Romanian coach Cosmin Contra, who represeted AC Milan and Atletico Madrid as a player.