With star striker Asamoah Gyan having ended a six-game scoring drought for club and country in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) on Sunday, and Omar Abdulrahman back in action following a hamstring injury, Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic should be much more confident.
Al Ain started the 2015 AFC Champions League (ACL) with a scoreless draw at home against Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab last week but the 2014 semi-finalists should produce an improved performance in Iran on Tuesday.
"We can take a lot of positives forward from this game," Dalic said, according to the Asian Football Confederation's website.
"It was our first win in three games after losing to Fujairah and the draw against Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia in the ACL.
"We didn't concede a goal in the last two matches, and with this result we go on top of the league table. It was good to see Gyan scoring again and Omar back in action."
The team that ended Al Ain's continental campaign last season - Al Hilal - will visit Al Sadd on Wednesday hoping to continue their unbeaten record against the Qataris.
In the quarter-finals last year, the Wanderers defeated Evergrande on the away-goals rule, with the first leg in Sydney including an ugly brawl, with the visitors' former coach Marcello Lippi running on the pitch to confront the referee after two of his players were sent off.
Beijing Guoan meet Suwon Bluewings, Tractor Sazi clash with Al Ahli of UAE and Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli host Nasaf.
