PERAK will march into their AFC Cup quarter-final first leg in opposition to SAFA FC of Lebanon today with only one foreigner -- defender Maria Estaban.

Two other Chilean imports for 2007 campaign, striker Carlos Caceres and midfielder Jorge Atonio has returned home after the Malaysia Cup despite their contracts only expiring in December.

This, said coach Steve Darby, has made an already rough mission even harder but his players are highly motivated.

"We have not been paid for the last three months but this will not affect the team's performance. In fact, we are aiming to take a healthy lead for next week's return leg,"

“ Cacares' exodus will be felt as he was the team's top scorer this season, leaving former national striker Khalid Jamlus as the main man in attack for tonight's clash.“ said Darby yesterday.

Darby also can't call upon strikers Mohamed Razali Kandasamy, who has been missing from training since last week, and Mohamed Fakri Saarani, who is with the national team.

Still, Darby remains confident.

"Despite our experience of how the Lebanese team play being restricted to just some video clips, I believe home ground advantage will help us and we should be able to take a two-goal lead."

However, SAFA coach Samir Saad is equally confident of returning home with the lead.

"We have three foreigners and we also have an impressive first round record (they won two and drew four matches).

"We respect Perak but we will fight all the way," said Samir.

Meanwhile, Kedah face a test of character against Bahrain's Muharraq away tonight (early tomorrow in Malaysia).

Kedah are the undisputed champions of Malaysian football after a second consecutive treble but the Bahrain side will test just what that means in the Asian context.