Omiya Ardija – DF Tsubouchi out for two to three weeks with a thigh injury. DF Murakami also expected to miss at least one month.
Kawasaki Frontale – DFs Komiyama and Jeci both out for at least a few more weeks each.

Nine wins for Frontale over the last ten years, compared to nine for Ardija – pretty even all round, with five draws over 22 meetings.

Omiya Ardija (P11 W4 D3 L4 GD -5) have been inconsistent so far this campaign. In Cho and Shimohira they have a couple of gems on the left but are not using them enough. Carlinos appears to be keeping out a great midfield player in Kota Ueda, and so needs to add more to his game to justify his selection. They have beaten Urawa and Gamba recently, but were destroyed by Vissel Kobe too and no-one is sure which Ardija will turn up … challenging Cerezo Osaka for the title of most inconsistent team in J1? probably not yet!

Kawasaki Frontale (P11 W5 D1 L5 GD -3) were blanked 2-0 at home by Kashiwa Reysol last time out but have won two of their last four, including a corker against Jubilo Iwata and are a changed team since coach Kazama took over. FW Yajima is on a hot streak with five goals so far this season after a slow start and will be hoping to add to that total this weekend. The fans may have learned that less Brazilians means more goals and points for Frontale? If the classy midfield of Frontale turns up today they will overrun the home team and I fancy that we should EXPECT a WIN for KAWASAKI FRONTALE!