KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and the Philippines are due to play their Group A football opener of the Asean Championship at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium tomorrow, and they have plenty in common - a new coach and squad.

Young Tigers' head coach Nafuzi Zain said: "This is a a new experience for me on the international stage. Most of our players are new too."

Malaysia are drawn into a tough Group A alongside hosts Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.

While many fans are already eyeing Malaysia's showdown with Indonesia on July 21, Nafuzi isn't taking his eyes off the immediate hurdle.

"I'm focused on the first game against the Philippines.

"If we win it, it's still not a guarantee, but we'll have one foot in the next round. The goal is to progress to the semi-finals, and a win in our opening match makes the path clearer."

The Philippine team also arrived in Jakarta with a newly assembled team and a fresh face in the technical area. Australian coach Garrath McPherson was only officially announced last week, but he brings with him a wealth of experience from both the men's and women's national setups.

"For me, football is football," said McPherson, who previously worked with Brisbane Roar and served as an assistant with the Philippines women's team.

"The systems and structures apply regardless of the level. We've had good experiences over the past nine months, the King's Cup, Merdeka Cup, and AFF Cup, and we'll draw from those."