Adelaide United will play Indonesia’s in an AFC Champions League qualifier on Thursday, after a preliminary Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling.

The winners of the qualifier are scheduled to play Bunyodkor in round one of the Champions League proper, with the Uzbek club to stage the first leg on March 6. But Adelaide may play Bunyodkor even if they lose the qualifier, as CAS officials may yet reverse their provisional ruling – which would mean the Reds would once again take a place in the draw proper.

“The decision is simply flawed,” chairman Greg Griffin said of the CAS ruling in favour of Persipura after the Indonesian club appealed against its exclusion from the Champions League draw.

Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) officals removed Persipura from the AFC Champions League for disciplinary reasons, and requested that the AFC replace the club with another – Persija Jakarta – in November 2011.

“Adelaide United has FFA’s full support in its efforts to retain its place in the 2012 ACL and we will continue the discussions and effort taking place behind-the-scenes to deliver the best possible result for the club.”

Adelaide will have to pay an estimated $99,300 “on-ground costs”, for hosting Persipura and eight AFC officials for three days, but they will not have to play in the cash-strapped AFC Cup if they lose on Thursday and if CAS does not reverse its preliminary hearing.