For Razaleigh Khalik, playing in the AFC Champions League (ACL) beats even appearing in national colours in the South-East Asia (SEA) Games in 2001 and 2003.

And even though things are not looking bright for the Warriors at the moment, the 29-year-old defender is determined to make sure that the Warriors feature in Asia's premier tournament again.

Said Razaleigh: "I played in the AFC Cup when Geylang (United) went all the way to the semi-finals (in 2004). But playing in the Champions League was a whole different ball game.

"The games that we played against big clubs like Kashima Antlers, it was a really an eye-opener. They have as many backroom staff as players! Their set-up is totally different. In terms of organisation, infrastructure, we still have some way to catch up with them.

"You can say that playing in the AFC Champions League is the highlight of my playing career. I played in the SEA Games in 2001 and 2003 and also played a few times for the national team, but playing in the Champions League beats everything. This is it. You can't get any higher than that.

"The crowd, the pre-match atmosphere, the build-up to the game, the travelling. It's really an amazing experience for a footballer and it's the highest you can go with any club in Asia.

"This has to be the highlight of my playing career."

Razaleigh will be one of the last players to throw in the towel as the Warriors face an uphill battle in their title defence. But he remains optimistic as he wants to play in the ACL again.

He said: "Hopefully we can win the league again this year and I can contribute. Hopefully I will get to play in the ACL again.

"We just have to play catch-up and focus on each game as it comes and win each and every one of them, and see what happens at the end of the season."

Like Warriors captain Shahril Jantan and right-back Noh Rahman, Razaleigh was with the club in 2002 during national service.

It was hard for a 21-year-old to get playing opportunities in a side teeming with stars that won the league, but Razaleigh still managed to get some playing time then.

He recalls: "I was with the Prime League team and it was my national service. Back then, Richard (Bok) was the Prime League coach and Fandi (Ahmad) was the head coach and both teams train together.

"I didn't play many games. There were many good players here and it was hard as a young player to have a chance to play, But still Fandi gave each and every one a chance, especially when the team is leading. He will randomly pick one or two of us and let us play.

"So I was lucky that when Geylang played here in 2002, and SAFFC was leading 2-1 or 3-1, Fandi put me in as left-back and I got 10-15 minutes of action against my old club. That was good. It was a good feeling."

Razaleigh was drafted into the inaugural Young Lions' squad in 2003 and was named captain. He returned to Geylang after his national service before joining the Warriors in 2008, after which he won the double and played in the both the Warriors' Champions League campaigns in 2009 and this year.

Looking into the distance like a predator eyeing his target, Razaleigh said: "Like Richard said, we've lost a few battles but the war is not over yet. So we have to wait till the end of the season.

"That's when it matters."