Four North West sides will be taking part in this year's Asian Football Championship play-offs to decide who will represent the region in the National tournament in Scotland later in the year.

Games will take place on the 16, 23 and 30 May around the North West. Here Asian Image Sport looks at how the contenders shape up.

ASIA FC

(Rochdale Saturday Alliance)

Asia FC are capable of winning these play-offs if only they held their nerve in crucial fixtures. They did manage to make it to Scotland last year when one of the eight national representatives dropped out. And as runners-up in the play-offs they were next on the list.

Finishing third in their Premier league is no mean feat and co-managers Maqbool and Bhatti have two sides (A and B) to choose from and in keeper Aidan Shah they have a very good prospect. They are always well organised and good teamwork got them into that second spot last season. But it's in that last third of the pitch where the side seem to run out ideas.

Co Managers: Sajid Maqbool and Rhais Bhatti.

Player to watch: Atif Rafiq

'Old' head at the back: Saeed Ahmed

Don't mention: The goal drought

BLACKBURN UNITED

(Blackburn Combination League)

Winners of the play-offs last year. Under new manager and the Don Revie of the local amatuer circuit - Javed Feroze, the side have risen to the challenge in their league this season. New signings have bolstered an all ready strong squad. They finished fourth in the premier league this year the highest ever in their history. United looked very accomplished in the midfield this season made up of likes of the Hafeji brothers (Kalim and Aziz), Valli Adam and Shakil Butt. That extra pace has caused a lot of teams problems this season and we can see it doing likewise in these play-offs.

Manager: Javed Feroze

Player to watch: Shakil Butt

Old head at the back: Sazid Master

Don't mention: The drubbing they got in the final game of last year's championships.

PAAK UNITED

(Pendle Charity League)

After a roaring start to the season Paak found themselves in a real struggle mid-season. Injuries put paid to title hopes but they have still got themselves in the runners-up spot and reached the cup final. Not bad for manager Javed 'Tinkerman' Iqbal who did well to get eleven players on the pitch in some games. He may not have have the bucks of Claudio Ranieri but he certainly has the passion. They won the play-offs in 2002 and have come the closer to reaching the final of the Asian football Chamionships than any other North West side. Unless the first team take to the pitch don't expect them to prove the pundits wrong.

Manager: Javed Iqbal

League: Pendle Charity Lge

Player to watch: Ishrat Medhi

'Old' head at the back: Manzur Ditta

Don't mention: The manager's weight

CANARIES

(Preston Sunday League)

Canaries have been promoted for the third season in a row in their league. Victories this season though were much harder to come by and the side looks a shadow of the team which has gone into past play-offs. Far too many players have been off-form. They have never represented the North West in the Championships and have always been let down by some 'strange defending'.

Maybe a tougher season has prepared them better. They still remain the most attack minded side of the bunch with players who can turn a game on its head within seconds. But maybe that won't be enough.

Manager: Junaid Kalang

League Preston Sunday

Player to watch: Suleman Hafeji

'Old' Head at the back: Mustafa Sadik

Don't mention: The keeper problem