The Esfahan club, league runners-up in the last two seasons, are currently two points clear at the top after beating Tractor Sazi 2-1 on Friday. Goals from right-back Mohammad Hosseini and striker Mohammad Ghazi secured their sixth win in eight games.
Iran international Mohammad Khalatbari is the Greens' leading striker, while other current internationals include Hosseini, midfielder Ghasem Hadadifar and goalkeeper Shahab Gordan.
Pohang have gone off the boil after K-League losses to Jeonbuk and FC Seoul earlier this month ended a run of five unbeaten games under former assistant coach Park Chang-hyun, who took over from Waldemar Lemos ahead of the round of 16 in May.
Seol Ki-hyeon could make his AFC Champions League debut and recently scored three goals in four K-League games as the 31-year-old former international begins to make up for an injury-stricken few months since joining from Fulham in January.
Brazilian strikers Mota and Almir were joined by compatriot Zulu in August, while Japanese defender Kazunari Okayama is the club's ‘Asian' player.