Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: With a place in the group stage in sight, 2011 Asian Champions Al Sadd will lock horns with Al Jazira of United Arab Emirates in the first stage of the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League, details revealed on Sunday. The Group Stage, which kicks off on February 23, will be preceded by the competition’s Preliminary Stages One (January 27) and Two (February 2) and also the Play-offs (February 9). The four winners in Preliminary Stage Two will advance to the East Zone’s Play-offs where all four winners punching their ticket to the Group Stage. Al Sadd will be accompanied by fellow QSL outfit El Jaish, who were pitted against Naft Tehran. Djamal Belmadi led Lekhwiya have secured an automatic berth at the group stage as Qatar Stars League champions. The clubs who have qualified directly for the Group Stage are: WEST ZONE Saudi Arabia: Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ahli IR Iran: Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan, Zobahan, Tractorsazi Tabriz Uzbekistan: Pakhtakor, Nasaf, Lokomotiv UAE: Al Ain, Al Nasr Qatar: Lekhwiya EAST ZONE Korea Republic: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, FC Seoul, Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC Japan: First, second and third clubs (TBC) Australia: Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC China: Guangzhou Evergrande Jiangsu Sainty Thailand: Buriram United Vietnam: Becamex Binh Duong The clubs will be drawn into eight groups -- Groups A, B, C and D (West Zone) and Groups E, F, G and H (East Zone). KEY FIXTURES Preliminary Stage One – East Zone: January 27 Preliminary Stage Two – East Zone: February 2 Play-offs (West and East Zones): February 9 Group Stage: February23 & 24 (MD1), March 1 & 2 (MD2), March 15 & 16 (MD3), April 5 & 6 (MD4), April 19 & 20 (MD5), May 3 & 4 (MD6) Round of 16: May 17 & 18 (1st Leg), May 24 & 25 (2nd Leg) Quarter-finals: September 13 & 14 (1st Leg), September 20 & 21 (2nd Leg) Semi-finals: October 18 & 19 (1st Leg), October 25 & 26 (2nd Leg) Finals: November 19 (1st Leg), November 26 (2nd Leg)