Kashima Antlers – DF/MF Nakata out for at least another month, MF Yamamura at least another two months.
Yokohama F. Marinos – DF Nakazawa was carried off last week and considered very doubtful, MF Taniguchi also on doubtful list while DF Amano is out for the season.

9 wins for Kashima, 10 for Yokohama and 4 draws since 2003, but only one win in last five meetings for Kashima.

After a long unbeaten run came to an end against Cerezo Osaka, Marinos have lost three games in a row and have still registered only 31 goals all season. Their defence – which has been seen to make comical errors in recent games – has been a model of inconsistency, conceding just 28 all season but, as noted, some have been dire lapses of concentration. If, as expected, centre back Nakazawa is missing, looking on the bright side, it could be a chance to find a long-term replacement from the fringe players, no!? Marinos are not going to qualify for the ACL this season, and won’t be relegated, needing, probably only about 3 or 4 points to be safe, so it is time to try something new, blood some youngsters, plan ahead – that’s where Yuji Ono came from!

Kashima Antlers are also in limbo and, while they, also, seem to be safe now – 8 points clear of relegation with 9 to play – they could also use a couple more wins in their run-in to be sure. But would Jorginho feel safe trying new things at the risk of dropping a place or two before the end of the season and finding himself out of a job, when he could play it safe, hope for the best from his players, and climb a couple of places, delaying the inevitable – that changes need to be made.
Two teams that MIGHT experiment, but will probably play it safe and boring? EXPECT a DRAW!