Kashima Antlers – DF/MF Yamamura is with the Olympic team. DF / MF Koji Tanaka will be out for two months with a knee injury.

Jubilo Iwata – FW Baek is with Korea’s Olympic team. GK Kawaguchi is out for the season. FW Kanazono is out for at least another two months. MF Matsuoka is out for the season. MF Yamamoto out for a month, DF Cho out for a month from Aug.1st.

Since 2003 Jubilo have beaten Antlers just twice, while Antlers have 12 wins, with 5 draws. Those two Jubilo wins, though, have come in the last four meetings.

Kashima Antlers terrible start to the season has faded into the distance but they are still only six points off a relegation place and struggle to score goals. They SHOULD have no problem in pulling away from the relgation dogfight in the coming weeks, especially if forwards Osako and Koroki can increase the output from their partnership. Osako was disappointed to not be chosen for London 2012 but the fans have been happy with his goals, including two against Sanfrecce Hiroshima two games back. The team giving new coach Jorginho the benefit of the doubt after his bad start will stand the team in good stead for a better 2012, but they need to win games like this to ensure the fans are kept appeased.

Jubilo Iwata look to be punching above their weight right now and miss Baek big time – in London with Korea – and are also missing 3 or 4 other regulars, which does not help consistency of team selection. They have won only one of their last four but are still in touch with the leaders and are 2nd highest top scorers in J1 so can never be counted out of any game but I have a strong feeling that home advantage and the stinging defeat of Kashima Antlers to Sagan Tosu last week will swing the game the way of the home team.

EXPECT a WIN FOR KASHIMA ANTLERS!