** Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are aiming to make their domestic dominance count on the regional stage as they kick off their AFC Champions League Elite campaign in China today.

The Southern Tigers, who arrived in Shanghai two days ago, will face Shanghai Port at the Pudong Football Stadium.

JDT coach Hector Bidoglio expressed high hopes of reaching the last 16 of the competition under the new format and expects his team to make a winning start.

With each club playing four matches at home and four away, the top eight in each side of the draw progress to the knockout stages early next year.

“This is an important competition for us to show how we have grown as a team over the years.

We are a club that improves every season.

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or should I say, every day,” said the Venezuelan.

“We have a great responsibility to ensure that our growth continues.

We have a good squad capable of competing on the biggest stages.

”JDT, however, have a tough challenge ahead against Shanghai, the best club in China and on course to retain the Chinese Super League (CSL) title.

Shanghai, facing JDT for the first time, boasts top-quality players like Argentine striker Matias Vargas, Brazilian playmaker Oscar Emboaba, Brazilian striker Gustavo Henrique, and Chinese international winger Wu Lei.

Emboaba is no stranger on the international stage as he once starred for Chelsea in the English Premier League.

He has also featured for the Brazilian national team, winning 48 caps from 2011 to 2015 until his big-money move to Shanghai in 2017.

Meanwhile, JDT captain Jordi Amat is expecting a tough match against Shanghai but they are prepared to get a good result.

JDT will play their home matches against Ulsan HD, Pohang Steelers (South Korea), Buriram United (Thailand), and Shanghai Shenhua (China).

In their away fixtures, they will take on Shandong Taishan, Shanghai Port (China), Central Coast Mariners (Australia), and Gwangju (South Korea).