Team News
Gamba Osaka – DF Kaji and FW Sato out for the season, and more.
Shimizu S-Pulse – No injuries reported, no suspensions.

Head to Head
11 wins for Gamba, 4 for S-Pulse and 6 draws since 2004.

Match Preview
Shimizu S-Pulse have disappointed in recent weeks – losing in the Nabisco Cup Final to Antlers, and then going down to a shock home defeat last time out to Albirex Niigata. Their hopes of finishing in 2rd place have been dented and they will be looking to get back on the winning road and staying in touch with the other teams fighting it out for that 3rd place. In other news there is interest from German clubs for striker Omae and he may be leaving . . not a good start to keeping this team together.

Gamba Osaka have held Sanfrecce Hiroshima and ACL-chasing Kashiwa Reysol in their last games and are more than capable of getting maximum points here today, especially if Leandro is fit and on form – he will be the man that S-Pulse will be watching very carefully, and the fitness – or rather lack of full fitness – on the part of Calvin Jong-a-Pin may well be the difference in that duel. S-Pulse are a young team, who have lost a cup final, and then a league game against lower opposition recently, they will not have the experience and will find it difficult to handle the pressure from a very experienced club like Gamba Osaka, who will be giving everything in their desperate attempt to fight relegation! EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!