Ahly won the Champions league last year.

Egypt's Ahly continue their quest to become only the third side to defend the Champions League when they host Tunisia's CS Sfaxien in the first leg of the final in Cairo on Sunday.

Ahly start as favourites to repeat the feat achieved by DR Congo's TP Mazembe Englebert in 1968 as well as Nigeria's Enyimba two years ago.

Victory would also enable Ahly to equal Zamalek's record of five wins in the continent's top club competition.

The Cairo giants face a dogged Sfaxien who have surpassed even their own expectations by reaching their first Champions League final.

The provincial Tunisian club became the first side to beat Ahly on African soil in more than two years when they triumphed 1-0 in the group phase of the competition in July.

Our only real fear is that the referee will be intimidated by the big audience Sfaxien coach Mrad Mahjoub

The result helped Sfaxien to finish above Ahly in the group standings, despite their 2-1 defeat in Cairo in the return match.

Sfaxien have won plaudits for their tenacious approach to the competition but they face an uphill task against a polished Egyptian outfit.

Ahly will rely on their experienced players to produce a performance similar to the one which helped the club win last year's competition.

Their team also features eight members of Egypt's winning squad from this year's African Nations Cup.

Ahly have tried to escape the pre-match hype in Cairo by cloistering themselves in a resort on the edge of the Egyptian capital, leaving Sfaxien to fire off the verbal volleys in the build-up to Sunday's first leg.

Sfaxien coach Mrad Mahjoub, who took over in July after the departure of the Swiss Michel Decastel, said his side planned to cause an upset by dominating possession.

"There is no fear of Ahly or of the crowd that will be backing them. Our only real fear is that the referee will be intimidated by the big audience," Mahjoub said.

Sfaxien's side includes Ghanaian striker Joetex Frimpong, seeking his third winners' medal in four years after being part of Enyimba's winning sides in 2003 and 2004.

A question mark remains over the fitness of full-back Fateh Garbi who has been hampered by an ankle strain.

The Tunisian club remain optimistic he will be able to play a part in the match as he has travelled to Cairo.