Katanec to use clash to prepare for AFC Asian Cup

Abu Dhabi: UAE coach Srecko Katanec will experiment with fresh faces in tonight's "Our Country v Our City" tie with Manchester City as he seeks to build a side worthy of claiming a spot in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.

The one-of-a-kind tie involving City and the UAE is tipped to become a regular annual fixture here in Abu Dhabi.

Katanec is planning to use tonight's match at the Zayed Sports City to step up his preparations for next week's international friendly tournament that involves the Czech Republic, Iraq and Azerbaijan. He will also step up preparations for January's Asian Cup qualifiers with Malaysia.

Katanec revealed how he hopes to field a young side with players cherry-picked from the Emirati youth squad that reached the quarterfinals of the Fifa U-20 World Cup in Egypt in October.

"We will play with a very young team. We have nearly eight young players for this game and this is a test for these boys," said Katanec, who has had hugely successful stints as coach of his national team Slovenia and with Macedonia.

Katanec feels the match is just what his side need to gear up for the friendly tournament in Al Ain.

Consolation

He reiterated the fact that the UAE can take heart from the fact that City coach Mark Hughes is also expected to field a young side that is waiting to impress the club's bosses.

"Manchester City are a strong team and this game will be a good way to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers with Malaysia in January. The international friendly tournament in Al Ain will also help us towards the cause," he said.

UAE team manager Esmail Rashid said the match will "test" the mettle of the younger members of Katanec's squad and help them graduate on to the big stage.

"The match will be a test for the players. They are not a normal team, they are Manchester City; they are sixth in the English Premier League and we will do our best [to win]," he said.