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PETALING JAYA -- Reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande will face Australia's Sydney FC in the group stages of the 2016 AFC Champions League as they look to win the elite Asian competition for a third time in four years. Thursday's draw pitted Evergrande against the 2015 A-League Grand Finalists in Group H, where they will be joined by yet to be determined teams from Japan and an East Asian playoff. Evergrande were knocked out in the 2014 quarterfinals by Western Sydney Wanderers before the fledgling A-League club became the first Australian side to lift the trophy. And Sydney FC team manager Terry McFlynn said the players were excited at the prospect of playing Luiz Felipe Scolari's side. "This is the beauty of the competition -- that you get to play against the best -- so we'll be facing the best straight away and we're really looking forward to it," McFlynn told ESPN FC. "The boys are in Adelaide preparing for an A-League match and they all sat down together to watch the draw on television. They're very excited to be facing the champions first up." Melbourne Victory have been drawn in Group G, in which only Suwon Samsung Bluewings, of South Korea, are confirmed opponents so far. Either Gamba Osaka or Urawa Reds -- contesting the Emperor's Cup final on New Year's Day -- plus the winners of another East Asian playoff will be joining them. Victory operations manager Paul Trimboli told ESPN FC the A-League champions were determined to give a better account of themselves than they had done in previous campaigns, in which they have never reached the knockout stages. "We've shown that we can conquer our own backyard but we'd really like to make a mark in Asia now," Trimboli told ESPN FC. "[Head coach] Kevin Muscat has already been on the phone -- he's taking the competition very seriously and wants to win every game that Melbourne Victory play." Adelaide United, who finished third in last season's A-League, are likely to face China's Shandong Luneng in a playoff on Feb. 9. "If they win that, they will find themselves in Group F with Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima, FC Seoul of South Korea and Thai Premier League champions, Buriram United. Adelaide reached the 2008 final before losing to Gamba Osaka. The 2015 group stages kick off on Feb. 23, with the knockout phase beginning on May 17. The two-legged final is scheduled for Nov. 19 and 26. Group A 1.Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan (IRN) 2. Al Nasr (UAE) 3. Lokomotiv (UZB) 4. Al Ittihad (KSA) or Al Wehdat (JOR) Group B 1. Al Nassr (KSA) 2. Zobahan (IRN) 3.Lekhwiya (QAT) 4. Bunyodkor (UZB) v Al Shabab (UAE) Group C 1. Pakhtakor (UZB) 2. Al Hilal (KSA) 3. Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRN) 4. Al Jazira (UAE) or Al Sadd (QAT) Group D 1. Al Ain (UAE) 2. Nasaf (UZB) 3. Al Ahli (KSA) 4. Naft Tehran (IRN) or El Jaish (QAT) Group E 1. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2. Jiangsu Sainty (CHN) 3. Becamex Binh Duong (VIE) 4. Winner Playoff 2 Group F 1. Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 2. FC Seoul (KOR) 3. Buriram United (THA) 4. Winner Playoff 3 Group G 1. Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2. Japan 2nd Club (JPN) 3. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 4. Winner Playoff 4 Group H 1. Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 2. Sydney FC (AUS) 3. Japan 3rd Club (JPN) 4. Winner Playoff East 1
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