Abu Dhabi: If you were picking a footballer to play for you in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all encounter, the chances are Xavi Hernandez would figure prominently in your thoughts.

It is a prospect most people are only afforded in fantasy football games, but for Jesualdo Ferreira, the Al Sadd coach, it is a beautiful and galvanising reality.

Ferreira’s Qatar Stars League outfit take on the Abu Dhabi’s Al Jazira on Tuesday in a one-game play-off for the Asian Champions League group stage, and the Portuguese supremo believes his captain Xavi’s wealth of experience will prove vital.

“For me, after 42 years as a coach, it is a privilege to work with Xavi,” Ferreira said on Monday, of the Spanish legend who joined Al Sadd last year after an illustrious 17-year career with Barcelona, during which he won an astounding 24 trophies. “He’s a personality who has won everything with Spain and won all competitions with Barcelona. But he plays like a child and is like a kid in training.

“He loves football, he loves work, and this is important. A player like this and with his personality, it’s very important for the coach and the team, especially the new players.”

Al Jazira and Al Sadd, who won the Asian Champions League for the second time in 2011, are vying for a place in Group C of the ACL alongside Pakhtakor, Al Hilal and Tractorsazi Tabriz.

But the Qataris’ task has been made harder by the fact that the play-off – which kicks off at 8.15pm at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday – is not a two-legged encounter, a singularity which Ferreira was keen to highlight.

“It is important to play to win,” the 69-year-old said. “Normally it’s two games, home and away. I think Al Jazira have the advantage in this situation as they can only play at home and if there is extra time and penalties, it is at home for them.

“We have no chances. For me, I think it’s more fair that there are two games, away and at home, but these are the rules.”

“Al Jazira is a big club,” he added. “They have the ambition to be champions [of the Arabian Gulf League] here. They have good players and a good coach [in Henk ten Cate]. It will be very difficult for us, but I am sure it will also be very difficult for Al Jazira.

“It’s not a game for points, it’s a game for goals.”

Al Sadd’s new winter signings, the defenders Pedro Miguel and Morteza Pouraliganji and the Qatar international midfielder Hassan Al Haydoos, are in the squad for the crunch clash.

Ferreira, who has only been in charge of the Doha-based club since last year, would not be drawn on any missing players from his selection, insisting that only those fit to play are of importance to him.

Midfielder Nasser Al Nassr added: “We know it’s a difficult mission for us. But we are prepared, both my colleague and the technical team, and we will try to do our best, Inshallah.”