TOKYO: Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad and K-League giants Pohang Steelers have both vowed to stay true to their attacking styles when they clash in Saturday’s AFC Champions League final in Tokyo.

Ittihad coach Gabriel Calderon, returning to the National Stadium for the first time since winning the 1979 FIFA U-20 World Cup with Argentina, believes the one-leg clash will provide an exciting showdown as the Tigers bid to add to their 2004 and 2005 titles.

“We’ve done really well to reach the final, but now we need to take the final step. I think it will be a very exciting match with two attacking teams,” said Calderon, who played in the 1982 and 1990 World Cups for Argentina.

“Personally, I really like Pohang because they’re an attractive, attacking side and Al Ittihad are also an attacking side. We’re similar teams with similar philosophies, although we have slightly different tactics, so I expect a really great final.”

Pohang coach Sergio Farias, who guided Brazil to the quarterfinals of the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Cup, also vowed to remain true to the attacking style that has helped them win the K-League (2007), FA Cup (2008) and League Cup (2009) in recent times.

“I know Calderon’s philosophy because he’s also a South American. Al Ittihad are a very attacking side and they have quality players, so we’ll have to play well to beat them,” said the 42-year-old Brazilian.“We’re playing very well at the moment and we’ve very motivated, as we’ve won all the domestic titles in South Korea in the last three seasons and we’re just missing the AFC Champions League. This is now our priority.”

Most of Pohang’s goals in this year’s competition have been scored by their attacking trio of Brazilian Denilson, Macedonia international Stevica Ristik and No Byung-joon, as well as attacking midfielder Kim Jae-sung.

However, Farias has admitted the Steelers will focus equally on trying to nullify Ittihad’s attacking threats, who include Saudi legend Mohammed Noor, Tunisia striker Amine Chermiti and Morocco international Hicham Aboucherouane.

“Noor is just one of their many good players, but I want to ensure we don’t give them space to play. Ittihad have beaten teams that have given them space, so we’ll make sure we don’t do that,” Farias said.

“Both teams know each other well, so it’s who can find the little bits of space in the important areas that will make the difference.”

Calderon’s side have the edge in experience. The Tigers are filled with current or former internationals and many are veterans of the two AFC Champions League wins and the impressive campaign in the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, where they beat African champions Al Ahly in the National Stadium.

“Having a lot of players with the experience of playing in and winning the AFC Champions League twice before is very significant,” Calderon said. “However, every game is different, so we need to make it happen on the day.”

Ittihad are well acclimatized to the local climate after spending the past two weeks in Japan, since arriving early for their semifinal second leg in Nagoya. However, Calderon refused to make a prediction for the final.

“The weather forecast is not always accurate, so I also don’t want to make a prediction. We had to play really well to reach this stage and Pohang have also done well to reach this far, so it all depends what happens on the day.”

Both teams are trying to make history as the first team to win Asia’s top club prize three times. Al Ittihad are the only two-time winners of the AFC Champions League with back-to-back victories in 2004 and 2005, while Pohang won the former Asian Club Championship in 1997 and 1998.

Kick-off: 7.00 pm local time.