Bangkok: Malaysia winger Safawi Rasid insists his team will give it their all as they bid to overcome Thailand and reach the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup final.

The Harimau Malaya dominated the first leg of the semi-final in the Bukit Jalil Stadium but failed to convert several chances in a 0-0 draw.

Now, Tan Cheng Hoe’s side face the daunting prospect of trying to beat or get a score draw against the two-time defending champions in Bangkok in order to progress.

21-year-old Safawi has emerged as one of the key players in an improving Malaysia side but he hopes they won’t be made to pay for missing several opportunities to win the home leg.

“In the first leg, we had many chances but me and my team-mates couldn’t score,” said Safawi. “For the 2nd leg, the team is already physical and mentally focused. Of course, if we lose we can’t go to the final, so we must give everything.”

Safawi has played in big games before and believes that the first leg of this semi-final ranked alongside the win over South Korea in this year’s Asian Games – in which he scored twice - as the biggest of his career. However, he is modest about his reputation as Malaysia’s ‘Wonderkid”.

“I don’t feel that I’m a wonderkid,” he said. “There are so many other good young players in Malaysia. For me, that wonderkid title just motivates me to take my game to another level.”

Safawi sees Thai striker Adisak Kraisorn as the biggest threat to Malaysia’s hopes, but he played down Thailand goalkeeper Chatchai Budprom’s claim that the Harimau Malaya would have a ‘nightmare’ in Bangkok.

“We’ll see about that,” said Safawi. “It will be fun and all the fans will be happy, win or lose, but we will give 100 per cent or more and I’ll try my best, especially for Malaysia fans, so they can sleep well.”