The highlight of the African Champions League matches this weekend sees Esperance of Tunisia playing Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa in Tunis on Saturday.
The Tunisian 'Blood and Gold' are within 180 minutes of reaching the group phase of Africa's premier club competition for a record seventh consecutive time.
And although the Chiefs are making their debut in a competition revamped eight years ago, they did win the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup four years ago.
While Esperance had to stage a remarkable comeback to make it this far, Chiefs were rarely troubled in securing a place among the final 16.
Trailing by two goals after the first leg at Al Hilal of Sudan, Esperance seemed doomed when they fell further behind in the return match before embarking on a five-goal blitz in the final 22 minutes of the tie.
The 5-3 aggregate triumph was achieved minus two stalwarts with veteran defender Khaled Badra and young striker Ali Zitouni loaned to Middle East clubs ahead of the Champions League.
Chiefs surprisingly struggled to get past ASPL of Mauritius in a preliminary tie, they then outclassed USJF Ravinala of Madagascar, winning narrowly away and convincingly at home.
The South African side's mainstays are Bafana Bafana reserve goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez, Malawi centre-half Patrick Mabedi, Zimbabwe midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha and Zambia striker Collins Mbesuma.
Esperance are one of seven contenders who have lifted the trophy in the past and the draw has kept them apart, raising prospects of the strongest group line-up since its 1997 launch.
Egyptian club Zamalek, champions a record five times, confront AS Aviacao in Angola while compatriots and three-time winners Al-Ahly also have an away assignment against impressive second round victors USMA in Algeria.
Enyimba of Nigeria, seeking to win the Champions League a record third year in a row, should prove too strong for visiting Zambian air force team Red Arrows in their south-east base of Aba.
Arrows have changed coaches despite thrilling victories over Diables Noir of Congo and CAPS United of Zimbabwe with former national coach Brightwell Banda succeeding Matthews Phiri.
Raja Casablanca of Morocco boast a proud Champions League finals record, winning three of four, and appear capable of holding former Cup Winners Cup holders Africa Sports in Ivory Coast.
Dolphin, the other Nigerian challengers, host 1998 champions Asec of Ivory Coast in an intriguing clash that pits the in-form hosts against visitors with far greater international exposure.
FAR Rabat, who in 1985 became the first African champions from Morocco, welcome 2004 runners-up Etoile Sahel of Tunisia for the first half of a North African showdown.
The Moroccan military team demonstrated their power by eliminating two-time champions Asante Kotoko of Ghana last month while Sahel used home advantage to subdue AS Douanes of Senegal.
Ajax Cape Town of South Africa entertain Fello Star of Guinea in a clash of debutants.
The second leg matches are scheduled for the weekend of April 22-24 with the winners progressing to the group stages while the losers take part in the Confederation Cup play-offs.
Champions League ties
FAR Rabat v Etoile Sahel
Africa Sports v Raja C'blanca
Dolphin v Asec
Aviacao v Zamalek
Ajax C.Town v Fello Star
Esperance v Kaizer Chiefs
Enyimba v Red Arrows
USM Alger v Al-Ahly
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