FC Tokyo – MF Otake is a long term absentee, FW Hirayama should still be considered doubtful.

Urawa Reds – DF Hamada is with Japan U23 team. DF Spiranovic is with Australia. MF Naoki Yamada expected to be out for the season.

13 wins for Urawa, just two for Tokyo, and three draws, in 18 meetings over the last decade.

FC Tokyo (P11 W7 D0 L4 GD +2) will be buoyed by the national team squad selection of Tokunaga, Hasegawa and Takahashi (who made his debut as a substitute) for the Wednesday match against Azerbaijan and will want to beat their close rivals to keep in touch with the title-chasing pack, so expect a hard fought battle in Tokyo this weekend. The teams are level on points but FC Tokyo have a game in hand due to ACL commitments so a win here would prove that they should be considered genuine championship contenders, while Urawa Reds (P12 W6 D3 L3 GD +4) will be claiming the same with a win.

Reds should have enough cover to make up for the absence of Hamada while Tokyo are also well covered in positions affected by absence. Reds have won just one of their last four games, while Tokyo are on a run of three wins-in-a-row. This could come down to confidence and that would swing it the way of FC Tokyo but I am going to EXPECT a DRAW?