amba are missing long-term injury victim Kawanishi. Myojin is not match fit but expected to be in the party. Eduardo, still not played yet, is close to fitness, and Paulinho is also expected to be fit after two weeks out.

Shimizu S-Pulse – No major injury worries or suspensions for S-Pulse!

Gamba Osaka (P6 W1 D1 L4 GD -5) finally got on the winning track last week, despite being 2-0 down before half time against Kawasaki Frontale. 3 goals, and three points will do a world of good for the confidence of this team who are in transition. Good performances are now coming from new imports or still-young players such as Kurata, Terada, Abe, Sato, Fujiharu, Konno and more look good for the future of the club, while stalwarts Endo, Futagawa, Kaji and Myojin soldier on and help the new team take shape. It is a season of transition for this team so the fans have to be patient but there is no reason why Gamba can not build on the win last week and start moving up the table now.

Shimizu S-Pulse (P6 W4 D0 L2 GD +2) also have a mix of young and old and are also in transition under the astute leadership of coach Afshin Ghotbi. The likes of Ono and Takahara are guiding the less-experienced players – Omae, Iwashita, Takagi and more – along with the foreign influence of the ever-improving Calvin Jong-a-Pin and Alex Brosque and the team is grinding out results, often getting less than they deserve from games. It will be close but I think we can expect the lower team to march on in their comeback, we will see a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!

Gamba have won 10 of 20 games with just the four wins for S-Pulse and six draws, in J1 and the J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup over the years. S-Pulse have not won since July 2009.