Iran kick off their Asian Cup qualifying campaign when they host Singapore in Tehran on 14 January.
Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic knows that the 43rd ranked Iran will the favorites to qualify for the finals and it will be a three way battle with Jordan and Thailand for the last qualifying spot.
"Iran is the main team in the group and they are the favorites to get to the finals," Avramovic said.
"They may have been undergoing some changes but they have done well recently in the World Cup qualifying and seem to have found the right balance in their team.
"They have a number of younger players but they are still one of the best in Asia and should be able to go through."
Little separates the other three teams vying a spot in the finals with Jordan ranked 124, Thailand ranked 126 and Singapore ranked 132in the latest FIFA rankings.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the finals in 2011 joining hosts Qatar as well as the top three finishers in last year's AFC Asian Cup Finals - Iraq, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
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