After having cast our eye over those players likely to make an impact in Group A yesterday it’s time to turn our attention to the remaining five nations over in Group B.

It’s there that a couple of established veterans will be expected to step up in the absence of some key stars whilst a couple of younger players will also be hoping to have a major say in the destination of the title but who are still somewhat overshadowed pre-tournament by the so-called bigger names in their respective squads.

Siwarak Tedsungnoen (Thailand)

Having to fill the boots for one of Thailand’s star foreign-based quartet is no easy task but for the man charged with replacing long-term goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan it’s arguably the biggest assignment of them all.

That role is expected to fall to Siwarak Tedsungnoen who at 34 is certainly an experienced campaigner, having starred with domestic powerhouse Buriram but with not even a dozen national caps to his name, he’ll be expected to handle the glare of the regional spotlight and is more than capable of doing so.

Zulfiandi (Indonesia)

One of a crop of younger players set to make their mark for Indonesia, Zulfiandi has earned rave reviews for his solid performances at both club and youth level for the Merah Putih and the stage is set for the 23-year-old to really announce his presence at the finals.

A classy number six who’s likely to sit at the base of midfield in the probable 4-1-2-3, the defensive midfielder might have only three senior appearances but he already has the look of a seasoned veteran with a crisp range of passing, solid defensive presence and an ability to control the tempo of the game.

So impressed was former national coach, Luis Milla, with Zulfiandi’s qualities that he argued just prior to his departure that the young midfield screener is good enough to play at a high level in Europe.

Stephen Schrock (Philippines)

The experienced midfield campaigner has one of the best pedigrees of any of the Azkals but has been in and out of the team for a variety of reasons over the past couple of years.

Set to be part of both the AFF Suzuki Cup and upcoming AFC Asian Cup as well, the 32-year-old midfielder is also a much-needed leader on the pitch in the expected absence of star keeper Neil Etheridge.

Technically gifted and tactically versatile enough to cover a range of positions, if the Philippines can get the best from the former German youth international they could go quite deep into the tournament.

Faris Ramli (Singapore)

One of the few Singaporean players to feature for clubs outside of their homeland, Malaysia-based Faris Ramli is one of the main creative threats for the national team that will need to fully exploit those qualities in a difficult looking group.

The 26-year-old is a dynamic playmaker whether on either wing or in a more central role and could be tasked with being the creator-in-chief for the Lions under new coach Fandi Ahmad and whilst he’s already a well-known name in Singapore and Malaysia he could be a more household presence across the region if he plays up to his talent level at the finals.

Aderito (Timor-Leste)

There’s no question that Timor are the outsiders in the section but with a core group of vibrant young attacking talent they have the ability to score – the issue might be stopping their opposition at the other end.

It’s there that the dependable goalkeeper Aderito will be a key factor as to what kind of success that O Sol Nascente have at the AFF Suzuki Cup.

Solid in his distribution and command of his area, the 21-year-old – who has been a full international since he was 17 – is also an impressive shot-stopper and he could emerge as one of the unsung heroes of the finals if Timor are to taste success despite the odds, given that they have to play all of their home matches at neutral venues.

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