Bao Yaxiong will hold the Shenhua goal, Slutsky will follow the 4-back formation, Zhu Chenjie is expected to return to the defense to partner Jiang Shenglong, while Manafa and Yang Zexiang will guard the two wings.
In midfield, Wu Xi will hold down the back, with Ibrahim Amadou partnering him, Han Chao, Joao Teixeira, and Andre Luiz forming the attacking group, with Dai Weijun and Cao Yunding likely to be on standby as substitutes.
The forward line is led by Mallet, the Swiss shot-stopper shouldering the offensive burden.
Accordingly, Shanghai Shenhua's expected starters to face Qingdao West Coast: Bao Yaxiong; Manafa, Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, Yang Zexiang; Ibrahim Amadou, Wu Xi; Yu Hanchao, Joao Teixeira, André Luis; Malelei.
