Myanmar coach Antoine Hey insists his team are fully prepared for the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup ahead of their opening Group A game against Cambodia at Mandalarthiri Stadium on Monday.

The hosts, who warmed up for the competition with a training camp in Qatar, are the last side in the five-team group to start their campaign after Cambodia lost to Malaysia and Vietnam beat Laos on the opening day last Thursday.

Myanmar equaled their best ever performance by reaching the semi-finals in 2016, beating the Cambodians along the way, before eventually losing to Thailand in the last four as the side matched their feat of 2004.

“We are looking forward to this match very much and I understand the stadium will be full. People are very excited to watch the national team play,” said Hey.

“To start on the second matchday can be an advantage and a disadvantage because Cambodia have already started the tournament so they are in the rhythm. But I feel from what I’ve seen in training that the team cannot wait to start.

“The players have worked extremely hard in Qatar, we set up a very tough programme for them as well as a couple of difficult matches. I’m very optimistic and I hope we have a good match.

“But there are five teams playing for two qualification places so we won’t be underestimating anyone.”

Cambodia narrowly lost their first match of the tournament after going down 1-0 to 2010 winners Malaysia in what was the first AFF Suzuki Cup match the country has ever hosted.

Under the joint stewardship of Japan international Keisuke Honda and Argentine Felix Dalmas, the Angkor Warriors are in the midst of an exciting new period and will hope to see continued improvement in the coming games.

After missing the first match due to his club duties with Australian side Melbourne Victory, Honda will fly into Mandalay and be present on the touchline ahead of the crucial clash with Myanmar.

“There are a few things that we have to fix [from the first match], but Myanmar and Malaysia are different teams and we’re in a process of growing and getting better, so our goal is to be better than the last game,” said Dalmas.

“We want the players to little by little understand the concept of what we’re trying to do. We had some chances in the first game and we’re working on how to get better at finishing, but creating the chances is very important as well so I’m happy about that.

“Keisuke will join us before the game. He’s always involved in what’s going on with the team, whether it’s in person or video. He knows what’s going on with training and we’re in constant communication. Of course it’s better when it’s in person so it’d be nice to have him here.”