Consadole Sapporo – DF Osanai out for a month, DFs Kim and North and FW Tele are expected to be fit but have fitness tests. Vegalta Sendai – DF Kakuda is out for at least a month.

7 wins for Sapporo, 6 for Sendai and 6 draws over the years, all in J2 until this year.

Vegalta Sendai won 4-1 earlier in the season and who is going to predict that the top club will lose to the bottom club – a team that has conceded 47 goals and scored just 13 in their 20 games so far. Sendai returned to the top of the league last weekend, but only because Sanfrecce lost to S-Pulse. In fact Sendai have won only one of their last five games as the top of J1 becomes congested moving into the final stretch. The team that wins games when a draw seems likely will win the league. Right now the top half of the league is getting closer as teams drop points, someone has to be consistent!

Consadole Sapporo have reinforced recently but many are unsure if is desperation and the hope that they can survive the drop, or planning ahead for next season in J2! For Vegalta, forward Akamine is on fine form after injuries and inconsistency slowed him down and Brazilian forward Wilson has settled in and started scoring regularly after a slow start. We can expect goals, mostly for Vegalta! For me a key man this season has been midfielder Matsushita, growing in stature and dictating plays. His free kicks and hard work have helped Sendai get to where they are.

EXPECT a WIN for VEGALTA SENDAI!