March 04, 2007	Sunday	Safar 14, 1428

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SYDNEY, March 3: Sydney FC's preparations for next week's Asian Champions League opener against Shanghai Shenhua have been disrupted by visa problems for two of their players, reports said Saturday.

Utility player Mark Milligan and defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley, who played in Australia's 0-0 Olympic qualifier against Iran in Tehran on Wednesday, were originally due to travel straight to China from Dubai.

But difficulties in arranging visas in Dubai mean both will have to make a big detour via Australia before joining their team-mates on Tuesday, the day before the match.

“There was no guarantee Mark and Nik were going to be able to obtain visas in time to make it from Dubai for the game,” coach Branko Culina told Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald.

“So they are flying back to Sydney. But, because the Chinese embassy is closed over the weekend, they won't be able to go in to get visas until Monday.

“Then, they will leave on Monday night and join up with the team on Tuesday. It's obviously far from being the best situation, but there's nothing we can do about it.” Culina said the delay would not change his plans to start Milligan in the game, either in a defensive role or as a holding midfielder.

He said he was undecided whether to start Topor-Stanley or use him from the bench. Culina also has an injury concern over chief playmaker Steve Corica (hamstring strain), while attacking midfielder David Carney has influenza and was sent home from Friday's training.

Nevertheless, Sydney's players were excited about the first matches in the AFC Champions League following Australia's switch to the Asian confederation. Adelaide United will host another Chinese club, Shandong Luneng, on the same night. “It's a historic event for Australian football,” skipper Mark Rudan said.

“All of the Sydney players involved will be able to look back on their careers and say we, along with Adelaide United, were the first to represent Australia in the event. Of course it's exciting. The players realise only too well how important an occasion it is.” — AFP