After an arduous journey to Bishkek for the first leg of the AFC Cup Inter-Zone Final against Abdysh-Ata, Central Coast Mariners are looking to become the first Australian club to reach the AFC Cup final.

Flying the flag for Southeast Asia as the ASEAN Zone champions, the Mariners are hot favourites ahead of the return leg in Gosford.

Ryan Walters is joined by A-Leagues broadcaster James Dodd to dissect the opening leg and look ahead to this week's return leg and whether the Mariners can create history for Australian clubs in Asia.