The Negri Sembilan defender, who missed the first leg after aggravating an ankle injury in training, has now been cleared to play in the return leg and will be tasked with shackling the Yugoslav-born Duric.
Duric ran circles around the Malaysia defence to score a brace in the first leg match, which Singapore won 5-3 at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday.
“I remember playing against him (Aidil) in 2009 in a friendly against Negri Sembilan. He’s a tough defender and I expect a hard time from him,” said the 41-year-old who plays for the Tampines Rovers in the S-League.
“Aidil’s return would be a big boost for Malaysia’s backline as he is very experienced. My job is to score and his job is to stop me from scoring ... so I’m relishing facing him.
“My experience will be my advantage. I have played in this region for 12 years and it gives me an edge over the younger players.”
Duric expects the Malaysian defence, which lacked stability in the first leg, to have learnt their lesson.
“It’s important for us to not make mistakes and we will have to work harder in the second leg to maintain our goal advantage,” said Duric.
“The 24-year-old centreback (Aidil) will also be an additional attacking threat as he is deadly from set pieces.”
The hard-tackling Aidil is also a candidate, besides striker Safee Sali, to take over the skipper’s armband following the suspension of Safiq Rahim.
Duric ran circles around the Malaysia defence to score a brace in the first leg match, which Singapore won 5-3 at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday.
“I remember playing against him (Aidil) in 2009 in a friendly against Negri Sembilan. He’s a tough defender and I expect a hard time from him,” said the 41-year-old who plays for the Tampines Rovers in the S-League.
“Aidil’s return would be a big boost for Malaysia’s backline as he is very experienced. My job is to score and his job is to stop me from scoring ... so I’m relishing facing him.
“My experience will be my advantage. I have played in this region for 12 years and it gives me an edge over the younger players.”
Duric expects the Malaysian defence, which lacked stability in the first leg, to have learnt their lesson.
“It’s important for us to not make mistakes and we will have to work harder in the second leg to maintain our goal advantage,” said Duric.
“The 24-year-old centreback (Aidil) will also be an additional attacking threat as he is deadly from set pieces.”
The hard-tackling Aidil is also a candidate, besides striker Safee Sali, to take over the skipper’s armband following the suspension of Safiq Rahim.
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