Defending Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande will host Beijing Guo'an on Thursday in a highly-anticipated match which newly appointed Evergarnde coach Luiz Felipe Scolari described as 'Chinese Derby'.
Evergrande are level on points with Guo'an, but Scolari's team top the standings thanks to a better performance in the league for reserve teams.
"We are all well prepared, the game held tomorrow is a national derby, the winner will be the champion of the first-half of the league. We have been training hard to take the victory," said Scolari.
Scolari, who steered Brazil to World Cup success in 2002, also played down concerns over the absence of several key players.
"We are short of the left backs, as Rene Junior and Alan won't return until October, while Zhang Linpeng and Li Xuepeng both need about a month to recover. Elkeson and Kim Young Gwon is already back to training, but their form is still a question," said the 65-year-old Brazilian.
"Beijing Guoan come here with a strong squad, but the key to win the game is the desire rather than how many healthy players you have," he added.
Scolari signed a two-and-a-half year contract this month, replacing Italy's former World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro.
