Defending Oceania football champions Auckland City are well aware they'll be a prized scalp when the new season begins this weekend.
The three-time winners regained the title they won in 2009 by beating Vanuatu's Amicale FC in the final in April.
They begin their title defence this Saturday at Solomon Islands champions Koloale and the club's Director of Football, Aaron McFarland, says they know teams will be keen to knock them off.
"It's a good place to be in but it also puts a lot more pressure on us. Probably one of the things that are in our favour is that we're playing some teams that we haven't played against recently. The first trip is to Koloale which is a team Auckland City hasn't faced for a couple of years so I guess it's new for both sides - all the teams in our group haven't seen each other for quite some time."
Aaron McFarland says he's confident Auckland City have developed a style of possession-based football which will serve them well in tricky away matches in the islands.
