When Sepahan play host to Japanese giants Urawa Reds at their 50,000capacity Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium in the opening leg of 2007 AFC Champions League final on Wednesday 7 November, the Iranians know that they are on the verge of making history.

As the first team outside Tehran to win the Iranian Pro League (IPL) in the 2002/03 season, the Esfahan-based club have broken further ground by becoming the first Iranian side to reach the final of AFC Champions League, sweeping past the likes of Saudi giants Al Shabab, inaugural winners Al Ain, Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale and Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates.

Having gone through a wilderness of 14 years in continental club competition, the fans across the Islamic Republic are hoping that Sepahan will capture their first Asian title since Pas won the Asian Club Championship back in 1993. And with a place at December's FIFA Club World Cup also for grabs, the team under Croatian coach Luka Bonacic, will give nothing less than 100 per cent.

Experience-gaining campaign
This season's campaign was not Sepahan's first foray in continental competition. They failed to get beyond the group stage in 2004/05, but in the eyes of captain Moharram Navidkia, the disappointment served as a great lesson for his team.

"We may not be one of the traditional giants of Iranian football but now we boast a very experienced team," said the 25-year-old. "We have managed some good results in our domestic league that have earned us qualification for the AFC Champions League on three occasions in the past four years."

Their efforts paid dividends this year as Bonacic's charges stormed into the knockout stage, where they saw off Kawasaki Frontale on penalties before dispatching Al Wahda on aggregate 3-1 in the semi-final. Navidkia admitted that they will do everything in their powers to keep the fans proud.

"This year we finally succeeded in reaching the final and it is a great achievement to have got so far," he said. "We are very happy to have the chance to play in the final because every player would love the opportunity to get to the highest level of any competition."

Down-to-earth approach
With the expectations already running high, the pressure is on coach Bonacic to guide the team to their first continental success. However, the cool-headed Croatian is realistic that their Japanese rivals will be a tough nut to crack.

"Urawa Reds are a good team and I have much respect for the way that they play." He continued. "I saw their game on TV and I thought that they played well as a unit."

Bonacic also expressed worries over the opponents' lightning speed, something he witness in their two goalless draws against Kawasaki Frontale in the quarter-finals.

"We had a hard time against Frontale because they gave us many problems with their speed. I should say I don't like playing against Japanese clubs as their players are quicker."

Despite this, however, the coach can obviously draw inspiration from the fact that Sepahan boasts one of the tightest defensive lines of all the 28 participating teams as they have only conceded six goals in all their ten games en route to the final. Asked for a prediction for the two-legged final, Bonacic was light hearted.

"Can we win? They say in my country that if you go to Rome, you can see the Pope. Anything is possible, so why not?!"