Bengaluru FC face their first away challenge in the AFC Cup when they take on Indonesian side Persipura Jayapura at the Mandala Stadium, in Jayapura, on Tuesday. Both teams come into this game having won their Group E openers. While Bengaluru beat Maziya S&RC 2-1 in Bengaluru, Persipura notched a key 1-3 away win to Warriors FC in Singapore.

The Blues arrived in Jayapura on Thursday after three flights and twenty-four hours of travel and Ashley Westwood’s side have the odds stacked against them.

Bengaluru FC are without as many as six regulars in Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Keegan Pereira, Siam Hanghal and Shankar Sampingiraj – all of who are part of the national team preparatory camp and while Westwood admits their absence will have a huge impact, the gaffer believes those getting a look in will make most of their chance.

“The preparation for the game has been a little indifferent. We have as many as six players missing and it will have a big impact but it is what it is. We are a positive club and for me, it is an opportunity for the rest of the lads to prove a point or two. All season we’ve been planning for a squad of around 24 fit players and this is a good chance to test that,” said Westwood on the eve of the game.

In Persipura, Bengaluru have opponents who made the semifinals of the tournament last year. Led by all-time leading scorer of the ISL, Boaz Solossa (137 goals in 199 games), The Indonesian club have won the league three times with an equal number of runners-up finishes since the ISL’s inception in 2008-09.

Westwood and his boys know they won’t have anything easy but the Englishman is keen that the Blues give a good account of themselves, like they did in the AFC Champions League play-off qualifier against Johor Darul Ta’zim, taking the Malaysian champions to extra time before going down 2-1. “To be honest, we haven’t really got a target. This is our first year in the AFC Cup and we want to do ourselves and our team justice. We want to come out here and test ourselves. We are well aware of Persipura’s history in the competition and in the national league. It’s going to be a tough match but want to give a good account of ourselves.”

The game kicks off at 12.00 IST and will be telecast live on Star Sports 4.