Kashima Antlers – DF Iwamasa is suspended.
Omiya Ardija – MF Hashimoto has Labyrynthitis – our for a month or so.

Kashima Antlers are 10 games to 1 in wins in this fixture, with four draws since 2005. Omiya’s single win came in 2009 at home.


Two draws and a loss (to Grampus) is the recent record for Kashima Antlers (13th – P16 W5 D4 L7 GD +2 Pts. 19) who had a terrible start, then saw something of a revival that had hopes rising, before settling into the lower mid-table at mid-season. Their fans will demand more and they have the players for the high expectations, they just need to become a team again.
Omiya Ardija (14th P16 W5 D4 L7 GD -12 Pts. 19) have the same record (apart from goal difference) as their opponents today, who have won and drawn their last two games aftter being taken over by a new coach. Perhaps the new coach effect will have dissipated by today but, if he has them playing as the sum of their parts, they may give Antlers a hard time, but there is a lot of work to do. EXPECT a DRAW today!