Western Sydney Wanderers were handed a difficult start to their Asian title defence when they were drawn against former winners Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Champions League on Thursday.

The Wanderers stunned holders Guangzhou in this year's quarter-finals on their way to winning the tournament on debut, becoming Australia's first winners of the competition.

Their Group H showdowns against the Chinese champions, now under former world player of the year Fabio Cannavaro, will be the pick of the preliminary stages starting in late February.

Japan's Gamba Osaka were pitted against fellow former Asian champions Seongnam FC in Group F, and A-League winners Brisbane Roar will face South Korea's Suwon Bluewings in Group H.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, who won the title in 2006, will play China's Shandong Luneng and Vietnamese title-holders Binh Duong in Group E.

However, the full make-up of the groups will not become clear until qualifying concludes early next year.

Among the West Asia groups, Saudi giants Al Hilal, who complained bitterly over their loss to the Wanderers in this year's final, face Iran's Foolad Khuzestan and Lokomotiv of Uzbekistan in Group C.

Group A: Nassr (KSA), Lekhwiya (QAT), Persepolis (IRI), Winner play-off 3 (West)

Group B: Pakhtakor (UZB), Al Shabab (KSA), Al Ain (UAE), Winner play-off 2 (West)

Group C: Foolad Khuzestan (IRI), Lokomotiv (UZB), Al Hilal (KSA), Winner play-off 4 (West)

Group D: Al Ahli (KSA), Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRI), Nasaf (UZB), Winner play-off 1 (West)

Group E: Jeonbuk Hyundai (KOR), Shandong Luneng (CHN), Binh Duong (VIE), Winner play-off 2 (East)

Group F: Gamba Osaka (JPN), Seongnam FC (KOR), Buriram United (THA), Winner play-off 3 (East)

Group G: Brisbane Roar (AUS), Japan second club, Suwon Bluewings (KOR), Winner play-off 4 (East)

Group H: Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS), Japan third club, Winner play-off 1 (East)